A YOUNG girl told a court how a man snatched her from a swing and slung her over his shoulder.

The eight-year-old told Bolton Crown Court that she had sworn at Andrew Davenport as he had grabbed her while she played in a small park in Moses Gate.

She said that he had been squeezing her legs hard and that she had punched and kicked out at him.

Davenport is on trial at Bolton Crown Court accused of two counts of child abduction. He denies both charges.

The girl said that Davenport put her on the ground when her grandmother unexpectedly arrived on the scene.

She said that when she was released she had a sore back and legs from where he had been squeezing her.

Davenport later told police that in hindsight his actions had been ill-considered but it had all been a misunderstanding and that he had not intended any criminal act.

He had asked them if they wanted a lollipop and one of the girls had agreed but claimed that the other had started swearing at him.

The sisters, aged 11 and eight years at the time, had been left to play by their father.

The judge ruled that Davenport's address should not be given for legal reasons.

He had put the girl over his shoulder because he did not want to take one to the shop leaving the other behind and he knew she would follow.

She said that her grandmother asked what was going on and Davenport told her she had been swearing at him.

(Proceeding)