Family Members Sentenced For Part in Kidnap of 11-Month Old Huddersfield Girl.

Thursday 4 October, 2012.

Three people have been sentenced for their part in the kidnap of an 11-month old girl in Huddersfield in March this year.

At Bradford Crown Court this morning, Huddersfield woman, Jodie Little received a 16month custodial sentence for kidnap.  Keith and Jayne Little also received nine-month suspended sentences also for kidnap.

On the 12 March 2012 an 11-month old girl went missing from a social services appointment in Huddersfield.  Following a large-scale operation by West Yorkshire Police's HMET and  Kirklees Division, the girl was found at an address on Church Lane, Huddersfield on the 14 March.  Jodie Little was arrested at the same time.

Over the following days Keith and Jayne Little were also arrested for their part in the kidnapping.  Speaking on the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "This was a very sensitive enquiry with an emotive background in which the overriding focus of our investigation was to ensure the welfare and  safe recovery of the victim.

"The investigation to find the child was a joint one conducted by officers from Kirklees Division and the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, which benefited greatly from the knowledge of local neighbourhood officers.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank those individuals from the local community who responded to our urgent media appeals for information, which ultimately enabled us to safely recover this missing child."

"Safeguarding vulnerable members of our communities is a priority and we are pleased that that this investigation has now been brought to a successful conclusion."