A MAN who disappeared to Wales with his schoolgirl lover wept as a judge sent him to jail for eight months.

Sacha Edwards and the 14-year-old girl had booked into bed and breakfast accommodation in Cardiff, the girl going missing from her Blackburn home after she was grounded by her parents who strongly disapproved of them seeing each other.

They previously had sex, but Edwards had believed she was 16 years old, Preston Crown Court heard.

Sending the 27-year-old to prison, Judge Edward Slinger told him: "The law does provide that youngsters, whatever their personal inclinations, need to be protected."

Edwards, of Oxford Road, Bolton, and formerly of Blackburn, had been committed by magistrates for offences of abduction and having unlawful sexual intercourse.

Mr Neil Standage, prosecuting, said that Edwards was 26 when he met the girl in September last year and a relationship developed.

Her mother found out what was going on and made every effort to put a stop to the relationship. The teenager told her mum she had ended it, but that did not turn out to be the case.

She went on to find her daughter at Edwards' home, drinking alcohol. Her parents went on to think that matters had come to an end, having grounded the girl.

However, one morning she dressed as usual, but never arrived there. It was discovered she had packed clothing and gone with the defendant to Cardiff where they booked into bed and breakfast accommodation. The pair were there around three days. After this, Edwards told his mother where he was and that information was given to police.

Defence barrister Simon Newell said the two had met in a pub before going into the Never Never Land nightclub.

She told him she was 18, but later said she was 16 and he was convinced about her age.

In passing sentence, the judge said only immediate custody could be justified.

He also told Edwards: "You clearly regretted it very quickly. There is no evidence you took sexual advantage of her in Cardiff.

"When arrested you were frank with the police. You were clearly distressed at what you had done."