Autistic man ‘wanted to marry’ girl, 14, he abducted

A MAN has admitted abducting a teenage girl he was “obsessed” with and wanted to marry when she was old enough.

Jonathan Glover, 34, had bought a ring for the 14-year-old, which he kept hidden at home. They travelled around on the bus together and spent the night in each other’s company before a member of the public reported them, concerned the girl was in inappropriate clothing for the cold winter weather.

Glover, of Frankley Beeches Road, Northfield, has been diagnosed with autism and had no “sinister” or “sexual” intention, but had been warned by police to stay away from her, Birmingham Crown Court heard. At a hearing, he admitted a charge of child abduction. Harinderpal Dhami, defending, said Glover got to know the girl through a “shared interest in a pop singer”.

He said: “He became her support network. In short there was no sinister motive. The long-term goal on both sides was they were going to be married and have a relationship when permitted legally.”

The offence took place on December 16, last year. Mr Dhami told the court: “She made contact because of domestic difficulties within her own life. He offered her some solace and a shoulder of support. They travelled on a night bus service most of the night and bunkered down in a bus station. All he was doing was offering her some support, effectively somewhere to go because of domestic circumstances. It is not a case where he took her for a much more sinister motive.”

Judge Dean Kershaw questioned the defendant’s basis of plea and asked whether the circumstances qualified as a “reasonable excuse”. But Mr Dhami said: “He had already been warned by the police about contact with this young girl.

“He knew and understood when she made contact what he should have said was “I can’t have contact with you”. And also by his own admission they came across police officers and didn’t raise that with officers. That would have been the prime opportunity. “A passerby saw them sleeping and was concerned. She (the girl) was wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather; a T-shirt and leggings.”

Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said: “We can’t look inside the defendant’s head. Quite clearly he was obsessed with this young lady and was hoping to get married to her in the future, even going as far as buying an engagement ring which he was hiding at home.”

Glover has already been subjected to a psychiatric assessment which confirmed his diagnosis of autism. The case was adjourned for him to be assessed by the probation service.