Man charged with raping girl, 10

A man will appear in court today accused of snatching a 10-year-old girl in a street and raping her.

Kevin Holmes, 28, from Crosby, near Liverpool, was arrested on Friday and is due to appear at Wyre Magistrates Court, Fleetwood, Lancs.

Lancashire Police launched a major investigation after the girl was taken from Martindale Avenue in Fleetwood, last month.

At around 1.15pm on Sunday, May 9, the girl was playing close to Martindale Avenue and visited a local sweet shop.

When she left the shop she was approached by a man next to a car who grabbed her, forced her into the car and drove off. She was then subjected to a serious sexual assault.

Holmes has been charged with kidnap and rape.

The girl and her family were continuing to receive support from specialist officers, said a Lancashire Police spokesman.