Man charged with kidnapping tells of remorse

The man accused of kidnapping two schoolgirls yesterday expressed "remorse" for what happened to the children.

The man accused of kidnapping two schoolgirls yesterday expressed "remorse" for what happened to the children.

Mr Alan Edward Hopkinson was remanded in custody at Hastings Magistrates Court accused of 10 charges relating to the disappearance of the girls.

After the hearing his solicitor, Mr Graeme White, said: "Hopkinson has specifically asked me to say that he is very sorry about what happened to the little girls.

"He does hope that they will be able to put matters behind them given time.

READ MORE

"He wishes to say that he himself wishes he could put the clock back.

"He has been very depressed and upset. He has not been very well but he has had two good nights' sleep, and he has been given sleeping tablets by the doctor.

"He has been in some physical discomfort with his stomach.

" Obviously it has been a great shock for him to be arrested. There are no specific admissions that have been made. He just wanted to express remorse," the solicitor said.

Earlier Mr Hopkinson, an unemployed man, appeared before the court accused with two counts of child abduction, two counts of false imprisonment, two of kidnapping and four others relating to serious assaults. He did not speak during the five-minute hearing.

The bachelor (45), of Langney, Eastbourne, East Sussex, was remanded in custody to Lewes prison for one week. He will appear in court on February 1st.

Because of the nature of some of the charges that have been laid, the court has made orders restricting the publication of details relating to the identification of the victims.