A NORTHFLEET man who hid a girl in his hollow sofa has been jailed for nine months for abducting a child.

Daniel Sampson of Codrington Crescent was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court today (August 19) but will only serve half the sentence in prison.

The 24-year-old labourer, who has been in custody since May 16, admitted one count of child abduction at a previous hearing on July 15.

The court heard Sampson met the child, a 15-year-old from Gillingham, last year and the pair fell in love.

She would often stay at the defendant’s home against her mother’s wishes and was described as a “troubled girl out of control” by defence barrister Louise Oakley.

The couple were not in a sexual relationship.

On May 13, police received a call from the teenager’s mother, saying she had gone missing.

When police went to Sampson’s home to look for her, he denied she was there.

But when officers returned two days later, they found the 15-year-old hiding in a sofa in Sampson’s lounge.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Polden said: “This is a unique case.

“When people image child abduction, they imagine someone snatching a child off the street away from their parents, but this is one that involves a head strong teenage girl.

“I accept you are not as mature as some 24 year olds and that the child was out of the control of her mother.

“Although the child was 15 years of age, it is the child’s protection which is of the court’s paramount concern.

“I have no doubt the child’s mother was very concerned.

“I sentence you to nine months - this is the shortest sentence that matches the seriousness of the offence.”