Shofiqul Islam, 22, from Raven Avenue, Chadderton, and Shamim Ahmed, 22, from Broom Street, Oldham, were jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, after they were convicted of child abduction by a jury last month.

In the early hours of June 27 last year, police officers found the girl in a car with Islam and Ahmed in a car park in Chadderton.

The girl had been reported missing from home the previous evening.

Both men told police they believed the girl was 18 but Ahmed admitted he had asked her which school she went to.

Det Sgt Jason Byrne, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "The idea that these men believed this 14-year-old girl was 18 seems unbelievable.

"The difficulty we have in cases like this is that the children who are targeted may go with the offenders willingly, not recognising the potential risk to their safety.

"It is an offence for an adult to take a child without consent from a parent or guardian and we will pursue a prosecution against anyone who does this.

"I hope this prosecution will act as a warning to any men who think it is acceptable to take children like this.

"This behaviour will not be tolerated and we will take all possible action to make sure the people responsible are brought to justice."

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