A MAN who defied a police order by abducting and then abandoning a girl half his age has been jailed for eight months.

A national child protection charity has praised the member of the public who spotted the 16-year-old girl that Sean Harman left in a distressed state on the streets at night and got help to her by ringing police.

Three days earlier, police had handed Harman an official notice to stay away from her.

Harman, 38, was on a suspended prison sentence at the time for planning to beat up a York photographer who specialised in photographing girls and women.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, said Harman believed the cameraman had been “acting inappropriately” towards children.

Harman, formerly of Bishophill Junior, York, and now of Leeds, pleaded guilty to abducting a child in the care of the local authority.

Sentencing him at York Crown Court, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, said: “My powers are severely limited by statute,” referring to the maximum six-month sentence for the offence.

He jailed Harman for four months, plus four months of the nine-month suspended prison sentence handed out at Teesside Crown Court in 2015 for conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm.

Following the sentencing, an NSPCC spokesperson said: “Harman defied an order prohibiting him from contacting his victim before abducting her and leaving her in a vulnerable state on the streets.

“His reckless actions could have had serious consequences for her safety and the member of the public who contacted the police for her protection should be commended.

“Anyone with concerns about a child in danger can contact the NSPCC helpline 24/7 on 0808 8005000, while children can call Childline on 0800 1111.”

On Monday, defence barrister Alex Menary told the court there was no suggestion that the girl had been unwilling to go with Harman.

City of York Council evicted Harman in December from his council flat because his loud music made his neighbour’s floor vibrate.