NOTTS MAN JAILED FOR ABDUCTION AND RISKY FRIENDSHIP WITH 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A Nottinghamshire man has been jailed after abducting a 15-year-old girl in what was described as an "immensely stupid" act.Tautvydas Balionis, 28, was sentenced for one offence of abducting a child from her parent or carer at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, July 15.
The incident occurred between August 29, 2024, and September 1, the same year, when the girl was found at his address on Victoria Road, Netherfield.
In August the same year, he had stood trial at the same court for an alleged offence of sexual activity with the same child, who was 15 at the time.
A sentencing hearing on Tuesday, July 15, was told Balionis "reasonably believed" the girl was 16.
The case was dismissed and the man was found not guilty following a disclosure from the victim.
Just a week after the trial concluded on August 22, the girl went missing from her home address in Derbyshire.
On August 30, she left her mother's house, saying she was going to visit a friend but never returned.
The mother contacted the police, fearing her daughter was with Balionis.
Officers went to his address and gained entry but no one was there.
A bag which belonged to the girl was found, however, and police returned later.
The girl was found with him and she was returned home and he was arrested, David Allan, prosecuting, told Tuesday's hearing.
Inquiries carried out by officers showed the pair had contacted or attempted to contact each other 1,541 times between August 22 and 30.
When interviewed by the police, the girl told them that she was friends with Balionis and had slept in different rooms.
Balionis was also interviewed and denied abducting the girl, with Mr Allan adding that "he knew she was 15 but thought it was appropriate to have a friendship despite the age difference and didn't think her mum would care".
A statement read on behalf of the mother by Mr Allen during Tuesday's hearing said: "My relationship with [the girl] has been strained for a long time but more recently has completely broken down.
"On the day he was in court and pleaded guilty, she decided to move out of the house as she is now 16.
I believe that this is because she wants to move in with him if he is released from prison.
She never mentioned moving out before meeting him.
"She has moved in with some friends and this has increased her vulnerability.
I'm unable to properly safeguard her.
I don't think she understands the situation.
This has been a huge mental health strain on me and I'm worried about my daughter and her relationship with him.
She would consistently go missing when he was out in society but would stop doing this and be a lot calmer when he was in prison." However, the victim has said in a statement that she feels safe around Balionis.
The statement read: "I do not feel threatened or unsafe in any way by Mr Balionis.
I have had numerous interactions with him and at no point have I felt threatened or uncomfortable in his presence.
"On the contrary, my time spent with him has been positive.
I felt happier and more at ease.
I trusted him more than anyone else.
Meeting him gave me a new perspective on life.
He has never been the cause of any harm I inflicted on myself.
I firmly believe that he has been unfairly used as a scapegoat for events in my life, including my decision to move out and conflicts." The court was also told the girl does not wish for a restraining order against Balionis.
William Bennett, defending, said: "To allow a 15-year-old to stay at his house without seeking permission from her mother and given the background of this case was an immensely stupid thing to do." Balionis has been in custody for 10 months, the hearing was told.
Judge Stuart Rafferty KC sentenced Balionis to 27 months imprisonment, adding that the 10 months he has already served will count towards that.
Balionis was of previously good character, with no previous convictions.
Judge Rafferty said: "From the very start and even now, you seem to paint yourself as a friendly but disinterested individual who cares for people and cares nothing for himself.
"What you did was foolish.
She was a vulnerable child.
There is a world of experience between somebody who is 28 and somebody who is 16.
[The girl] had become infatuated by [you] and [you were] encouraging that."
