Ryan Ashley Darken lured nine-year-old girl into his car by pretending he was looking for lost puppy

The Warnbro tradie who stole a nine-year-old girl on her way to school before dumping her outside a shopping centre with her hands cable-tied tricked the youngster into his car by pretending he needed help looking for a lost puppy. Ryan Ashley Darken also claimed he was the father of her friend in a bid to gain the girl’s trust after she told him she was not allowed to get into the car of a stranger. Details regarding how the 39-year-old managed to lure the schoolgirl into his vehicle on July 21 last year were revealed during what was supposed to be his sentencing hearing on Thursday. Darken had admitted to depriving the girl of her liberty, threatening her and other offences but a legal issue arose surrounding one of the charges he pleaded guilty to. WA’s District Court was told the 39-year-old had pleaded guilty to a kidnapping charge but during the hearing Judge Troy Sweeney said she had concerns about whether the facts supported that charge. The court was told the little girl had been walking to school with two friends when Darken, who was parked in a carpark, yelled out to her to come over. When the girl approached his silver utility, Darken told her he was her friend’s father and that he needed help looking for his puppy. The court was told the girl then got into the front seat of his car and Darken drove off with her inside. It has previously been revealed that after he drove off with the girl, Darken dumped her outside an IGA shopping centre with cable ties around her hands. It had also been revealed that a woman witnessed the girl get into the car and that played a key role in police arresting him so quickly. Judge Sweeney said from a layman’s point of view, what took place sounded like kidnapping or abduction but under the law certain elements had to be met and that she had reservations about that charge. She said the enticement and deception by Darken would be better characterised as child stealing which still carries the same maximum penalty of 20 years. “There is no question he fraudulently enticed her away and detained her,” Judge Sweeney said. “She got into the car voluntarily. I don’t see a legal difficulty for the child stealing charge.” Darken’s lawyer, Christian Porter, told the court he expected his client would plead guilty to a child stealing charge, adding he wanted to prevent further discomfort to her family. But he said he needed time to explain the specifics of the amended charge and asked for the matter to be adjourned until next week. Outside court, a victim of Darken who was in court supporting the child’s family, said she was disappointed his sentencing hearing had been delayed. Ashleigh Murray, who bravely waved her right to anonymity, was sexually abused by Darken almost two decades ago when she was 12. She said she hoped Darken would be jailed, explaining he received a suspended sentence for the crimes against her. Darken will be sentenced next week.