A FINANCIAL advisor who allowed a 12-year-old girl to stay the night at his home has been spared a jail sentence.

Peter Reynolds admitted abduction and possessing amphetamine.

He denied sexual activity with a child and administering a drug to commit sexual activity with her, and those charges were left on file.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the 47-year-old defendant's basis of plea made it plain that while he accepted his criminality, there was no coercion, the girl was not kept against her will and she was not “out of contact with the outside world”.

Reynolds, at the time living at Saltwood, near Hythe, spent almost two months in custody after his arrest in January.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the girl’s mother became concerned when she didn’t come home and eventually called the police.

Eleanor Laws, prosecuting, said Reynolds was in a shop when the girl and her friend offered to sell him cigarettes. He told them they would have to go to

his house, as he did not have any money on him.

A teacher saw the three leaving the shop, one of the girls carrying a box of lager, and thought they were related.

“Clearly, while in the house they drank alcohol, wine and lager,” said Miss Laws.

By the time other girl left, the victim had drunk half a bottle of wine. A urine sample from her later showed substantial use of amphetamine.

Reynolds accepted the girl staying for about 20 hours at his home amounted to abduction, but gave an assurance that she remained there by consent and he never prevented her from leaving.

The girl, who cannot be identified, had access to a telephone and computer, he said. He slept on a sofa. The girl helped herself to alcohol.

Reynolds added that the girl must have also helped herself to his amphetamine. He made several attempts to get her to go.

Miss Laws said that when officers went to Reynolds’ house they knocked repeatedly but there was no reply.

They warned that they would force entry and Reynolds then answered the door.

When asked where the girl was, he replied: “Take her away. She is upstairs.”

She could be heard whimpering in a bedroom. She was found with her hands over her face and crying hysterically.

Reynolds, she said, had tried to get her into the loft to hide behind some

boxes. The loft was slightly open. She was taken to hospital.

When arrested, Reynolds claimed the girl told him she was 17. He had cannabis and traces of amphetamine in his blood.

He was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and will have to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He will also be under supervision for 18 months and have to attend a Think First programme.

Richard Cross, defending, said Reynolds, now of Chorley, Lancashire, simply wanted to get back to work.

“This was a serious error of judgement, but one for which he has paid and will continue to pay very heavily,” he added.