A FATHER and son appeared before magistrates yesterday to deny abduction charges relating to a 14-year-old girl.

Wilfred Stocker, 48, of Station Road, Darlington, pleaded not guilty at South Durham Magistrates' Court to unlawfully taking the teenager between February 2 and March 29.

His teenage son, Thomas, of Diamond Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully detaining the girl on March 29.

Magistrates sitting in Darlington heard that 19-year-old Mr Stocker had a relationship with the girl.

The men will appear at a pre-trial review on July 20. Both were granted conditional bail not to communicate with the 14-year-old.