A CHILD abductor who snatched a six-year-old girl from her bath may have struck twice before ten years ago, it emerged last night.

Detectives are examining possible links between the abduction from Willington Quay, North Tyneside, on December 27, and assaults on two girls who were driven from their Tyneside homes and dumped in Darlington, in 1995.

The new line emerged as Northumbria Police ruled out Lee Bayley - who was found hanged in his flat - as a suspect.

Mr Bayley's body was found last week, only yards from the scene of the abduction.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier said: "The North Tyneside girl's ordeal bears chilling similarities to the abduction of two girls of five and four, who were snatched from near their homes in Newcastle a decade ago.

"Although taken from separate areas four months apart, in 1995, both ended up dumped semi-naked 40 miles away in Darlington.

"Despite a massive manhunt, the kidnapper was never caught.

"Specialist liaison officers have been in touch with the families of the

earlier victims to help ease their worries about the latest inquiries."

In May 1995, the five-year-old girl was taken from Blakelaw, Newcastle. She was dumped on Woodland Road, in Darlington, three-and-a-half hours later.

In September, four months later and three miles from the scene of the first abduction, a four-year-old was snatched from Newcastle's New Mills estate.

She was found on the doorstep of a house in Bulmers Square, Darlington, 17 hours later. Police said both abductions were sexually motivated.

Mike Berry, a psychologist who has helped police catch child abductors in the past, said: "If these cases are linked, my first thought is that he must have been out of action for a number of years.

"He may have been married or in a relationship that has recently broken down, or his partner has died, or he has been out of the country.

"It may be that he was convicted for another crime, unrelated to this. If it is the same person, something very powerful has stopped him."

He believes the child snatcher must live in the North-East.

Det Chief Insp Napier said: "I am keeping an open mind on every line of this investigation, but we are liaising with officers who worked on the earlier abduction and assaults of two girls for any possible links."

Police are trying to trace three cars that were seen around Willington Quay on December 27.

The girl was abducted at about 7pm and found half an hour later.

Police want to trace:

* A red or burgundy VW, possibly a VW Golf, seen travelling slowly around the Willington Quay area, including the back lanes, about two to three hours before the girl was abducted.

* A red car that was seen being driven at speed from Bewicke Road then west along Hadrian Road at about 7.15pm.

* A black Ford Focus that was seen around the Station Road and Bewicke Road area at about 6.30pm. The car was being driven at speed and making a loud noise, as if it had a mechanical defect.

Det Chief Insp Napier said: "We need the drivers of these vehicles to come forward so that we can eliminate them from our inquiries.

"We'd also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise these

vehicles and who owns them.

"They can speak to detectives in the incident room, where any calls will be treated in the strictest confidence."

Inquiries and forensic tests have produced no links between Lee Bayley and the abduction.

According to the girl's description, her abductor was between 5ft 4in and

5ft 8in, and possibly with sideburns or unshaven.

* Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 0191-214 6555, extension 63806.

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