Girl escaped kidnap by sending text

A TERRIFIED teenager escaped from the clutches of a man who had abducted her after she managed to send a text to a friend, a court heard yesterday.

John McPhee, 58, was frogmarching the schoolgirl towards his home when her friend received the message and ran to help. McPhee, of Ironside Place, Thurso, Caithness, is facing a possible life sentence after he admitted assaulting and abducting the girl, 14, on 25 November last year, and another four sex-related charges dating from 2006.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the girl had been spending the evening with friends when she went to her grandparents' home. McPhee had been visiting the house and engaged her in conversation before leaving.

A few minutes later, the girl left and saw McPhee. He grabbed her and asked if she wanted sex. She said no, and tried to pull away, said the advocate-depute, Alastair Carmichael.

He began to frogmarch her down the street in the direction of his home.

Mr Carmichael said the girl managed to text one of her friends. The friend, also 14, ran to her aid and encountered the accused, still gripping the girl.

Lord Stewart continued the case until May.