Man remanded after schoolgirl found in France

A 49-YEAR-OLD man was remanded in custody yesterday when he appeared before a French court over his disappearance with a British schoolgirl.

Laura Stainforth, 15, went missing on Wednesday last week after meeting Robert Williams in an internet chatroom.

The pair handed themselves in to the British consulate in Lille, north-east France, on Wednesday and Williams was taken into custody.

He appeared before magistrates in Douai, northern France, yesterday after a European arrest warrant was issued by British police.

Williams will appear again on January 27 when the court will decide if he will be returned to Britain.

A spokesman for the court said Williams had been remanded in custody.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said yesterday that they had collected Laura, who is safe and well, from their French counterparts and were returning to Britain.

But they said it is unlikely she will return to her home in Cleethorpes, north-east Lincolnshire, at present.

Detective chief inspector Sharon Fielding said: “Our main priority now is to ensure that we paint an accurate picture of the last seven days’ events and specially trained officers will be speaking to Laura in order to do so.

“Laura’s well-being is of utmost importance to us and we have a duty of care to both her and her family at this tough time.

“We are now entering the investigation phase of the inquiry, with our victim being cared for by police, and the suspect in French custody awaiting extradition so it is important that this is taken into account.”

Police said Laura will be interviewed by specially trained officers on her return to Britain, in an attempt to uncover the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

A statement said they would work closely with the schoolgirl and her family to enable a reunion as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, Laura’s mother, Debra Stainforth, from School Walk, Cleethorpes, was visibly shaken, her voice breaking with emotion.

She said: “I am pleased to inform everybody that my daughter, Laura Stainforth, is safe and well.

“I am grateful for all the support from the papers and the publicity that has brought Laura back home to us.

“We are grateful for all the support our family and myself have been given. Thank you,” she added.

The teenager and Williams were captured on CCTV footage at Grimsby railway station on Wednesday evening.

Laura was spotted in Dover on Thursday and was seen on the Pride of Kent ferry travelling from the Kent port to Calais, that afternoon.

Police believe Laura might have been chatting to Williams on the internet for up to six months.

She said Laura and Williams had gone to the consulate in Lille, possibly after seeing appeals.