Kidnap-rape case girl: 'Coaxers' seen in area earlier

Police in Cardiff investigating the alleged kidnap and rape of a three-year-old girl have said that two men were seen attempting to entice young girls into their car near where the snatch took place.

Police believe that a dark blue Ford Escort with two male passengers was travelling around the Llanrumney area of Cardiff on Monday.

They want to speak to anyone who saw the car between 5am and 11pm, or who was asked to get into the car.

The three-year-old girl was snatched from her home in Rumney, part of the wider Llanrumney area of the city, between 7pm and 11pm on Monday and allegedly raped.

Police believe the girl was taken from inside her own home, not lured or coaxed out.

She was only found by police when the car in which she was travelling crashed 80 miles away on the A4 between Marlborough, Wiltshire, and Hungerford, Berkshire, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Officers in Wiltshire said that a grey Escort was seen jumping a red traffic light with its headlights switched off.

She suffered minor injuries in the crash but also required hospital treatment for other “significant” injuries.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kemp, leading the investigation into the girl’s abduction said: “We have reason to believe that the two men in question may have attempted to entice young girls into their car at some stage during Monday.

“I am appealing to anyone who had any contact with these men to speak to us at the incident room. They may have information that is vital to the investigation.”

Superintendent Josh Jones, deputy divisional commander for Cardiff, said: “I recognise that this information will be a cause for concern among the residents of Rumney and the wider Cardiff community.

“However, I must emphasise that we have recovered a car and we have three people in custody in respect of the kidnap and rape investigation – we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to this matter.

“Incidents like this are extremely rare and we will continue to provide a highly visible police presence in the area.”

Three men, aged 26, 34 and 47, are being questioned by South Wales Police on suspicion of rape and kidnap.

South Wales Police confirmed that they have been in contact with Northumbria Police to “share information” on the case of a six-year-old girl who was abducted from her bath and sexually assaulted in North Tyneside.

But a spokeswoman said: “We don’t think there is any link at all.”

Police were today given an extra 36 hours to question the 47-year-old man. On Wednesday officers were granted more time to hold the two other suspects.

Officers are still combing an address in Newport, Gwent, for forensic evidence.

More than 50 officers are working on the case, South Wales police said.

The 26-year-old was arrested at the scene of the crash, and the 34-year-old was taken into custody while police were still looking for the girl.

The 47-year-old was arrested in Cardiff on Tuesday morning.

A relative has told BBC Wales that the girl does not yet want to return home and was “very quiet and hasn’t said very much at all“.

Last night her mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Daily Mirror: “She’s been through hell. All she’s asking for is her dummy and her five-year-old brother. I’m so relieved to get her back.

“My sweet little girl is always so chatty and loves playing with Barbie dolls. But she’s hardly spoken a word since this happened.

“She gave her dad a smile for the first time this morning. But she’s just completely overwhelmed and in shock.”

She said she had been on the telephone to her own mother when her daughter was taken and that it “happened in seconds“.