FOLLOWING Thursday’s announcement by Devon & Cornwall Police that they had located a missing 12-year-old South Devon girl in Lincolnshire and an arrest had been made, they have now named a North Devon man who has been charged in connection with the girl’s disappearance.

12-year-old Leona Peach was reported as missing from her home in Newton Abbot on December 20 and Devon and Cornwall Police made a number of media appeals asking for her to get in touch, as well as stating that she was believed to be heading to Bideford to be with a family member.

On Thursday they revealed that Leona had been located safe and well in Boston, Lincolnshire, after officers received assistance from Lincolnshire Police, and that a man had been arrested.

They have today (Friday) named the man concerned as Billy Peach, aged 34, from Bideford, and say that he has been charged with breach of court bail and knowingly assisting a child to run/stay away.

In a short statement, they add that Mr Peach is due to appear at Exeter Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Saturday, January 1, 2022).