AN ISLE of Wight woman flouted a child abduction warning notice and was caught with a young girl hiding in her kitchen.

Ruby Owen, of Fitzroy Street, Sandown, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old admitted four counts of detaining a child, so as to keep her from a person having lawful control, between October 24 and November 15.

Prosecutor, Ann Smout, told the court Owen had been issued with a child abduction warning notice in October, and informed she should not have been in the company of a certain young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

When the girl failed to return home on November 14, she was reported missing, and police visited Owen’s address.

The girl was found hiding in the kitchen, and upon Owen’s arrest, a mobile phone was seized.

Ms Smout said text messages and pictures revealed a number of additional dates where Owen had clearly been in the company of the young girl.

In police interview, Owen told officers the pair had mutual friends, and she treated the girl like a little sister.

On November 14, Owen said the girl had been upset, and she felt bad about turning her away – not realising how serious the matter was.

The court heard Owen was last in court for battery, but she had no previous convictions of a like nature.

Ms Smout said it was not a case of child abduction, but rather, she had been keeping the child away when told not to do so.

Barry Arnett, defending, said Owen didn’t force the young girl to do anything.

He said the pair met a year ago and texted each other on a regular basis.

On November 14, the girl went to Owen’s address in a distressed state, and her only concern was to make sure she was OK and safe, taking the view she was helping her out.

The court heard the girl stayed the night and took her toothbrush with her.

Mr Arnett said Owen had been going through a particularly hard time herself, and it would have been heartless to have slammed the door in the girl’s face, telling her to go away.

Owen’s case was adjourned to December 20 so a pre-sentence report could be drawn up.

She was granted conditional bail.