Teen’s shock confession as lacking lady discovered beneath his mattress after cops hear ‘shush’

The girl, who was under 13 years old at the time, was said to have never co-operated with the police investigation after being tracked down and is believed to have lied about her age

A young man revealed he had sex with a vulnerable child as a teenager before she was discovered hiding underneath a bed. Toby Ashley was a teenager himself at the time when a girl, under the age of 13, went missing in Rochdale. The girl told her family she was going to meet a relative and would be “a few hours”.

But she failed to show up at home sparkling a police hunt which found her inside a flat in Greater Manchester the following day. Ashley lied to police saying he hadn’t seen her in a week – but she was hiding underneath his bed. Prosecutor Eve Salter told Manchester Crown Court on Friday (April 11) that officers gained entry to the property and could hear two voices saying ‘shhhh’, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Then under 18, the defendant was arrested. Analysis of swabs taken from the girl revealed the defendant’s DNA, Ms Salter said. The court heard there was evidence of planning and that the girl was vulnerable.

Sara Haque, defending argued her client should receive a community rather than a prison sentence because of his lack of maturity at the time of the offence.

Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones noted the girl “has never co-operated” with the police investigation and was never formally interviewed by officers.

“It’s clear from the evidence she was a willing participant in the sexual activity that you engaged in,” Judge Corbett-Jones told the defendant.

The judge said there was also evidence the girl had lied about her age.

He added: “You have consistently maintained you believed her to be 15 years of age and I accept on the basis of evidence before this court that was your belief,” adding: “There’s no evidence of coercion, exploitation or pressure placed upon her by you.”

Ashley was handed an 18-month community order after admitting two offences of sexual activity with a child.

He was also ordered to complete 26 sessions of the ‘Building Choices’ program run by the Probation Service, as well as 15 rehabilitation activity days.

Ashley, now 21 was also ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and to pay a £22 victim surcharge.

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