A teenager locked up for attempting abduct a child from a primary has had his conviction overturned on appeal.

Bahader Hassankhail, 18, of Wychwood Avenue, Thornton Heath, has been freed from a young offenders' institute following the ruling at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.

He had been accused of posing as the 11-year-old girl's cousin in a bid to take her from her Croydon school on July 21.

Police were called to the school after the girl told staff she did not know him. 

Mr Hassankhail was sentenced to 18 months in custody at Croydon Youth Court on March 27 after being found guilty of attempting to take a child from a person having lawful control in December.

His appeal was upheld after a three-day hearing.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: "We respect the decision of the court in this matter."