A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a young offender who ran away from Swindon Magistrates' Court.

The 16-year-old girl had been driven from an address in the South East of the UK ahead of a court appearance this morning.

She was facing 10 charges including criminal damage, public order offences, being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.

A member of Swindon's Youth Offending Team had escorted the girl on her journey to Swindon, and the pair were just feet from the front door when she made a dash for it.

The incident occured just after midday outside the court on Princes Street.

Shortly before 1pm, a solicitor from the Crown Prosecution Service asked magistrates to issue a warrant for the girl's arrest as her disappearance meant she had technically failed to appear.

Police are now actively looking for the girl whose disappearance was described as a "safeguarding risk" by representatives from the Youth Offending Team who were at the court.

When she is found, she will be arrested and held in custody to be brought to court at the first opportunity.