'No regrets' for runaway pair

Natasha Phillips: "No regrets"

The 12-year-old schoolgirl who caused a massive police hunt when she ran off with her teenage boyfriend has said she does not regret her actions.

She said she would rather be with her boyfriend, 15-year-old Ashley Lamprey, from Ackworth, West Yorkshire, than at home.

Natasha Phillips returned to her home on the Isle of Wight at lunchtime on Friday and immediately stormed upstairs.

The young couple were missing for 48 hours before being found by police in Milton Keynes on Thursday.

She's gone up to her room and she ain't coming down Det Insp Clive Merrett

Natasha, who arrived home in Newport, Isle of Wight, with her mother Michelle and stepfather George, said: "People do not really know how I feel so they can't judge that."

She said she was looking forward to seeing Ashley again, adding: "I don't regret what I've done. It hasn't been that bad really. I hope I will see him again soon, hopefully."

Ashley Lamprey also denied he and Natasha were too young for romance, saying: "If you love somebody then that's what really matters.

"We just cared about each other so much that we really wanted to be together."

The pair had been in regular contact since the holiday

The pair met while on holiday in Greece earlier this year and had been in daily phone contact since. Police believe they arranged to meet up some time ago.

Detective Inspector Clive Merrett, of Hampshire Police, who accompanied the family back to their home, said: "She's gone up to her room and she ain't coming down.

"The family appreciate everything the media has done, but they want to be left alone now."

The couple met up in Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday evening after looking at a map to find a town midway between their two homes.

They were recognised by staff in an HMV store in Milton Keynes on Thursday, who contacted police.