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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Man who abducted Cleo Smith from WA campsite to be sentenced

The man who abducted Cleo Smith from her family's campsite will be sentenced in December. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

The man who has admitted abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family's West Australian campsite is set to learn his fate in December.

Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of forcibly taking a child under 16.

The matter returned to the WA District Court on Friday with lawyers confirming the case was ready to proceed to sentencing.

Registrar Jacquie Kubacz ordered that Kelly face a two-day sentencing hearing on December 13 and 14 before Chief Judge Julie Wager.

Kelly, who is in custody, was not required to attend Friday's hearing.

Cleo was found alive in early-November last year, 18 days after she went missing from the remote Blowholes campsite.

Her disappearance had sparked a major police investigation which eventually led detectives to a property 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.

Australian Associated Press

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