A 47-YEAR-old man abducted an 11-year-old girl in Witney and tried to book a double room with her at three hotels in the town, a court heard.

Robert Townsend befriended the girl last year after being told explicitly by her mother she was only 11.

Yesterday, Townsend escaped a jail sentence after Oxford Crown Court heard he suffered from a learning disability. The girl was known to visit a playground in Witney where Townsend worked as an attendant. He knew her mother and often gave the girl gifts of sweets and cigarettes.

On January 18, Townsend was arrested by police after attempting to book into a string of hotels.

Earlier in the evening the girl's older sister saw her leaving a cinema with Townsend, and her mother immediately reported her missing.

Kate Mallison, prosecuting, said the girl had tried to book a room at The Marlborough Hotel, in Market Square, at about 10.20pm.

When that failed, the pair tried unsuccessfully to get a room at The Fleece Hotel, in Church Green, and The Four Pillars Hotel, in Ducklington Lane, before ordering a cab to try hotels in Oxford.

Miss Mallison said the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared to have telephoned in advance to make a reservation.

Police arrested Townsend before the taxi arrived and found a pack of condoms in his pocket.

Photographs of the girl were found at his home, in Westfield Road, Witney.

The girl had £120 in cash from Townsend, stuffed inside a box of painkillers.

In an interview, Townsend denied intending to have sex with the girl, saying he would have been unable to because of a medical condition.

He admitted a charge of child abduction.

Nick Syfret, defending, said Townsend had a learning disability.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat said some sort of sexual relationship with the girl was clearly involved but reports showed Townsend to be "vulnerable, profoundly isolated and emotionally lonely".

She imposed a three-year community rehabilitation order.