Doncaster man admits abducting teenage girl

John Bush disappeared with the girl, who cannot be named, in June.

A nationwide police hunt was launched after the teenager went missing from her home near Doncaster.

She was found with Bush four days later by police at Euston Station, in central London.

Today, Bush appeared for a brief hearing at Sheffield Crown Court where he admitted sexual activity with a child, child abduction and making off without paying for two hotel rooms.

Sarah Wright, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service needed a week to decide whether Bush’s basis of plea was acceptable or whether a judge would have to decide what exactly happened when he took the girl away.

Nicholas De La Poer, defending, said his client “doesn’t want to prevaricate” and wanted to be sentenced today but understood the prosecution situation.

But Judge Paul Watson QC said he wanted a pre-sentence report to be completed.

The judge told Bush: “Custody would appear to be the only outcome.”

Bush pleaded guilty today to sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl between January 1 and June 11.

He also admitted the abduction of a child between June 9 and June 15 and making off without paying £120 for two hotel rooms in Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, on June 13.

Bush, of Moss Road, Askern, Doncaster, stood in the glass-fronted dock flanked by a security guard for the 10 minute long hearing wearing a blue and cream striped polo shirt and jeans.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Watson and will be sentenced on November 4.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Robinson, who led the investigation to locate the girl and Bush, said: “The disappearance of the girl led to a nationwide hunt involving many police forces and other agencies. Bush was guilty not only of abducting a child but he went on the run across the country in a deliberate attempt to evade arrest.

“Thanks to the professionalism, dedication and hard work of the investigation team, and with the support of our colleagues up and down the country, we built an unassailable case against Bush which helped secure his guilty pleas today, so sparing the child and witnesses the upset of having to give evidence at a trial and saving the public the expense of a trial.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to bring this man to justice.”