Sex offender in court over death of Facebook girl

The mother of a teenage girl who was killed after she arranged to meet a man on Facebook told today of the "hurt and devastation" her death has caused.

Andrea Hall said her daughter Ashleigh was "loving, honest, caring and well-liked" and that she could not begin to describe her pain.

The 17-year-old left her home in Darlington, County Durham, on Sunday evening after telling her mother she was staying overnight at a friend's house. Mrs Hall became concerned and started calling Ashleigh's mobile around Monday lunchtime but the calls were never answered.

The teenager had been found dead that morning in a farmer's field close to a country road near Sedgefield.

Mrs Hall said: "No one can imagine the hurt and devastation that has hit our family. Everybody loved her. She was a person who brought light into the lives of others." Ashleigh's sisters, Olivia, six, Ellie, four, and one-year-old Evie were said to be "distraught".

Mrs Hall said Ashleigh was in her last year of a childcare course at Darlington College and hoped to become a child minder or nursery nurse. "All the kids liked her, in fact the whole community was fond of her and they have shown that love by rallying round to support us in our time of need," she said.

She also spoke about social networking sites. "I don't want other families to suffer what we are going through," she said. "Tell your kids to be careful on the internet. Don't meet someone without telling your family where you are going. Don't trust anybody and don't put your children on Facebook or other sites if they are under age We have learned a terrible lesson."

Homeless Peter Chapman, 32, appeared before Newton Aycliffe magistrates' court today charged with kidnap and manslaughter. He was also charged with failing to notify a new address as required for sex offenders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He was remanded in custody.