A 26-YEAR-OLD man took a girl half his age to the pictures, bought her jewellery and drove her around in his BMW.

Abdul Rashad, of Railway Street, Brierfield, was warned by police about associating with the youngster, who had gone missing from a children's home, but still carried on seeing her, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The pair were discovered parked up in his car at Towneley Park, Burnley, in the early hours, then again in Belvedere Road, Burnley, just five days later, the court was told.

Rashad, who had met the girl at Next where he then worked, admitted child abduction but claimed he did not have sex with the girl.

However his conduct was slammed as irresponsible and foolish by the judge, who said he had taken advantage of the victim and behaved poorly.

Recorder Arthur Noble told Rashad the "sting" had been taken out of the offence by his guilty plea on the basis there was no inappropriate behaviour but had there been he would have been going to prison.

The judge went on: "I can only hope you have learned a valuable lesson in these proceedings."

Rashad, now jobless, was given 28 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Dennis Watson, prosecuting, said at the time the girl was in the care of the local authority.

She had been moved to the East Lancashire children's home from another one because she had flouted the rules at the first establishment.

He went on: "In other words, although she was 13, she knew her own mind and did not appreciate the care regime that the local authority felt was appropriate for her." Last July 9, police spoke to the defendant and the girl as they sat in his car at 2am in Towneley Park.

The girl, classed as missing, as she had not returned to the home, was taken to the police car and told officers: "I will see who I want. If I can't see him I will see somebody else."

The girl was with Rashad willingly but her age must have been obvious. He was warned by police.

Mr Watson said last July 14, police came across the same BMW on Belvedere Road, Burnley.

Rashad was with the girl, was warned again and claimed he did not know how old she was even though he had been told five days earlier.

The child's mobile phones were taken and contained the defendant's number and a picture of him.

The girl then borrowed a phone and contacted Rashad. The prosecutor said the girl was moved to another home out of the area, but carried on trying to contact the defendant.

He was arrested last August 16 and his mobile phone seized from his locker at Next. Rashad told officers he had kissed the girl on the cheek as a friend and said he might have dropped her off at the home.

He said they had not had a sexual relationship and the girl had not complained of any, added Mr Watson.

Mark Stuart, defending, said the 13-year-old had sought out the defendant at Next.

She was mature for her years.

He was unaware of her age and until July 9 did not know she lived at a children's home.

He added the girl had run way from local authority care and disobeyed orders on many occasions in the past.