Man Arrested After Missing Schoolgirl Jade Lynch Found

He's 'helping officers with their enquiries.'
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Cheshire Police/PA

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of abduction a day after missing schoolgirl Jade Lynch was found.

Jade, 14, was the subject of an intense 11-day search across several areas in the North West.

She disappeared while out shopping with her brothers in St Helens, Merseyside, after saying she was going to meet a friend.

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Jade
SWNS.com

Jade was found "safe and well" by police in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, north of Manchester, just a day after an emotional appeal for information.

Detectives have now reportedly arrested a man, 19, on suspicion of abduction.

He is being held in custody and will be questioned about Jade’s disappearance, the Manchester Evening News reported.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jade’s disappearance is currently ongoing, and a 19-year-old man is helping officers with their enquiries."

Previously, fears over Jade’s welfare had been raised by detectives who described her as “an extremely vulnerable person”.

On Tuesday, her older sister Stephanie, 22, tearfully reassured Jade she had nothing to fear from coming home.

She said: "She knows us, she knows we are not going to shout at her, ground her or anything like that. I just want to know that she’s okay."

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Stephanie Lynch, 22, made an emotional appeal on Tuesday
Manchester Evening News

Jade is originally from Warrington, but had been staying on Merseyside at the time of her disappearance.

Earlier, police thanked the public for their vigilance during the search for Jade.

Det Supt Jon Betts said: "Information from the public is vital, and throughout this investigation the support that we have received from the public has been outstanding.

"Print, broadcast and social media have proved instrumental in getting the information out to the public which has resulted in the support we have had.

"Now that Jade has been located I would ask that the privacy of Jade and her family is respected. We are currently working closely with our partners to support Jade at this difficult time."