Men arrested for attempting to sell child to news reporter

TWO men have been arrested following an alleged attempt to sell a young girl to an undercover newspaper reporter, police said yesterday.

The men, aged 39 and 44, from Plymouth, Devon, are being held at the city’s Charles Cross Police Station, on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

A couple, who were arrested two days ago at the Copthorne Hotel in connection with the same incident, have been released on police bail without charge, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said.

All arrests followed a tip-off from the deputy editor of the News of the World.

The newspaper reported that the couple - an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man - were both allegedly drug addicts trying to sell the three-year-old girl for £15,000 (€22,000).

Police are still looking for two other men in connection with the alleged attempted sale.

A spokesman said: “The overall investigation is being pursued vigorously both within the community and with those arrested.

The child involved is safe and well.