No charges for three men in Bristol teen girl ‘abduction’ case

Bristol: Police have confirmed that no charges were filed against three men. They were arrested while with a 15-year-old girl after a nationwide appeal.

This case gained attention in spring 2022. Avon and Somerset police escalated a local missing persons case to a national child abduction alert.

The girl, who remains unnamed, was in foster care. She was first reported missing in mid-April 2022. Eight days later, police announced she was found, but she went missing again shortly after.

On May 4, 2022, police renewed their appeal, fearing she was with a man. By May 11, they escalated the case to a national alert, expressing urgent concern for her safety.

A detective inspector stated they were no longer treating it as a missing person case. They believed she was likely with someone due to her history of disappearing with adult men.

Police released CCTV footage of her last sighting near a shop in Southmead. They described the situation as deeply worrying for her family and carers.

Days later, police found the girl in Bristol with three adult men. Those men were arrested on suspicion of child abduction but were never named.

After that, Avon and Somerset police stopped making public statements. The three men were never charged, and in October, it was revealed that two were released without charge.

Recently, police confirmed that the investigation into the third man was dropped due to insufficient evidence. He has also been released without charge.

A police spokesperson stated there were no further lines of inquiry to pursue after a thorough investigation.