A CHALE Green woman has been convicted of an offence under the Child Abduction Act.

Jennifer Ashley May-Cunningham, 33, of Spanners Close, was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court last Tuesday for the incident, which took place on March 1, following a trial.

She denied detaining a child so as to keep her from a person having lawful control contrary to sections 2(1)(b) and 4 of the Child Abduction Act 1984. She was convicted of the offence.

At her initial hearing on March 3, the court heard how May-Cunningham had invited a child back to her home for a cup of tea. The child, a girl, had been playing in a green area outside.

May-Cunningham was spotted by neighbours who raised the alarm.

After her initial hearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, she was released on bail, but was arrested on March 12 for breaching a bail condition.

On March 13, a further court hearing heard how May-Cunningham had been told not to speak to any of the witnesses who lived on her street, but was arrested after she asked one of them for a lighter.

Barry Arnett, defending May-Cunningham, said: "My client suffers with various mental health problems and unfortunately she lives in a cul-de-sac with all the named witnesses in this case.

"She went around to this witness's house, not to discuss the case or anything like that, she just wanted to ask if they had a lighter."

May-Cunningham was remanded in custody that day.

Last Tuesday, magistrates gave Cunningham a one-month custodial sentence for detaining a child, two counts of assaulting a police constable, and use of threatening words or behaviour.

She was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £122 and court costs of £100.