A Higgler charged with kidnapping a 13-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

He is 38-year-old Camel Dawson from a Clarendon address.

He is to return to court on April 7 when a preliminary enquiry will be carried out into the matter.

Allegations are that on February 8, the complainant was on her way home from school when she stopped at Heroes Circle to watch a football match.

After leaving Heroes Circle, she headed towards Cross Roads. While walking, she heard someone saying, "My friend, hello."

unknown man

When she looked behind her, she saw a man unknown to her. According to the complainant, she became afraid and started to walk faster.

It is also alleged that the accused caught up with the complainant, placed something at her back and told her to walk with him. He then took her to a nearby gully and told her to walk on the bank.

Apparently the complainant was not moving at the required pace as the accused began to complain that she was walking too slowly.

He then went into the gully, giving the complainant enough time to pick up a piece of iron. She made her escape on to the main road where she saw a taxi that picked her up. She related the incident to the driver who took her to the Central Police Station where she made a report.

On March 19, the complainant saw the accused in St William Grant Park and made a report to police officers from Motorised Patrol. He was later pointed out to the police and arrested.