AN anxious mum has urged Home Office ministers to act quickly to close a legal loophole regarding child abduction.

Angry June Hick, 47, called on the Government not to delay their review of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 following comments from Appeal Court judges this week.

As reported in The Press yesterday, attempted child snatcher Terry Delaney lost his appeal against his four-year jail term on Monday.

Now June, mum of 13-year-old Natalie Hick, who was standing at a bus stop in Acomb when Delaney tried to kidnap her last October, pressed the Government to take this into account and change the law.

The Press and Sara Payne's charity, Phoenix Survivors, are calling on the Home Office to add child abduction to a list of crimes under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, so that offenders can go on the register in future.

June, of Strensall, said: "I'm just worried the case with be forgotten and the law will never be changed.

"The Home Office must not delay in closing this loophole because it means offenders like Delaney will not be on the register and not monitored when they are released from prison.

"The judges at the Court of Appeal raised the issue that Delaney could not have any court orders made against him under the current law and this must count for something.

"There have been other child abduction cases where this has been an issue - so I would urged the Government to listen to our judges and take action."

The Press launched its Change It! campaign after Delaney was sentenced at York Crown Court in April, when Judge Paul Hoffman expressed concern about the anomaly in the law'.

Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe is currently looking into the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and The Press have received assurances from the Home Office that child abduction will be considered as part of this review.

We are urging ministers to take into account comments from Appeal Court judges, who backed up the view, that "a presumed motive must be to commit either a sexual or violent act in relation to the girl".

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Gerry Sutcliffe went to America to carry out research for the review of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and now more work is being done on that here.

"If any offences are added to schedule three of the Act, it means offenders will be put on the Sex Offenders' Register automatically, and if offences are added to schedule five it will be at the judge's discretion."