Man accused of bath girl snatch

A man has appeared in court after a six-year-old girl was taken from a bath in North Tyneside last year.

Peter Ivor Smith, 34, appeared before magistrates charged with unlawfully taking a child and two offences under the sexual offences act.

The girl was later found in an alley in Willington Quay on 27 December.

Mr Smith, also known as Voisey, of The Thornton Hotel, Renwick Road, in Blyth, Northumberland, was remanded to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on 13 April.

Mr Smith was arrested on Tuesday following a high-profile investigation into the incident.

A 25-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.