A 27-YEAR-OLD former shop assistant is today living at a secret address after appearing in court charged with abducting a 14-year-old girl and having unlawful sex with her.

Blackburn magistrates made the decision not to release details of where Sasha Rene Edwards was living amid fears for his safety.

Edwards, whose home address is in Blackburn, is now staying at a secret address outside the borough after being granted conditional bail yesterday.

Edwards was arrested in Cardiff on Tuesday where he had been staying in bed and breakfast accommodation.

The 14-year-old girl cannot be named for legal reasons.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said the application for Edwards to be bailed to a secret address was as a result of concerns about the safety of the defendant.

The address was handed to the magistrates on a piece of paper and was not read out in court.

He was granted bail on condition that he does not communicate with the girl, does not enter Blackburn except to attend court or by prior appointment with his solicitor, and reports to police twice a week.

His father also put up a surety of £2,000 to guarantee his attendance at court on February 9.