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AAP
AAP
National
Aaron Bunch

Cleo Smith's abductor returns to court

Terence Darrell Kelly has been convicted and fined for obstructing police. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The man who has admitted abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's West Australian campsite has pleaded guilty to obstructing police.

Terence Darrell Kelly has previously admitted one count of forcibly taking a child under 16.

The 37-year-old appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday, where he was convicted and fined $1000 for obstructing public officers.

Cleo was found alive in November 2021, 18 days after she went missing from a remote campsite about 1000km north of Perth.

Her disappearance sparked a major police investigation which eventually led detectives to a property 75km south in Carnarvon, just minutes from Cleo's family home.

Police forced entry and found the little girl alone in a room.

The dramatic rescue was captured by an officer's body-worn camera and subsequently made news headlines around the world.

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