Terence Kelly was high on methamphetamine and looking for things to steal when he came across four-year-old Cleo Smith sleeping in her family's tent in regional Western Australia and decided to abduct her.
The 37-year-old loner had always longed for a family of his own, and wanted a little girl he could dress up and play with.
"I, you know, wanted to hold on to her … I wasn't planning to keep her forever," he told police shortly after Cleo was rescued from his house 18 days later.
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Kelly's motives for snatching the girl from the Quobba Blowholes campsite on October 16, 2021, and details about what happened during her time in captivity were revealed in the Perth District Court on Wednesday as Kelly was sentenced to 13 years and six months in jail.
Chief Judge Julie Wager said Cleo spent most of her days alone, trapped in a bedroom after Kelly altered the door handle so the room locked from the outside."
She pleaded to go to her parents, she asked mainly for her mother," she said.
"You put on the radio loudly in the bathroom to cover up any noise that Cleo made.
"The young victim heard her name on the radio and she said they were saying her name."
After his arrest, Kelly told police he "roughed Cleo up a bit a few times" and became angry when Cleo got "bossy" asking for chocolate, but claimed he didn't want to hurt her and wanted to make sure she was "comfortable".
He said Cleo cried often and that he had tried unsuccessfully to tie her up.
"I just used sticky tape, but it wasn't working. So, I thought, 'I won't tie her up any more with the sticky tape'. I tried to tie her to the chair and that with her hands, feet and mouth. I tried to do that. She was a bit of a fighter," he told police.
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On the night he abducted her, Kelly unzipped Cleo's family tent and discovered her sleeping inside, alongside her baby sister and parents.
He quietly bundled her and her sleeping bag into the front seat of his car and drove on dirt tracks for the 75-kilometre journey back to his house in Carnarvon.
During Cleo's 18-day ordeal, Kelly was spotted multiple times out in the community, visiting family and shopping for noodles and chocolate.
He also attended a course.
Wager said Cleo was often alone at the house.
"Being separated without any explanation is distressing for a four-year-old child. But 18 days without contact or explanation, and with hours totally on her own and no access to the outside world would have been very traumatic for the child," she said.
"Her parents didn't know if she was alive or dead … they didn't know what had happened to her, or if she'd ever return."
"This shattered her family, and has been damaging and traumatising for the child."
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During the ordeal, Kelly befriended Cleo's mother, Ellie Smith, on Facebook and watched on as she pleaded on social media for her daughter to be returned.
Smith and her partner, Jake Gliddon, were in court to hear the details of their daughter's ordeal.
Court-appointed psychiatrists found Kelly had a severe personality disorder and longed for his own family, including a little girl he could "dress up, play with and be with".
Wager said Kelly had created a fantasy family and made multiple Facebook profiles of his pretend children. In reality, he lived a detached and isolated life.
"You speak in your record of interview with police about having a number of children … these family members are fictitious, however they are very real to you," she said.
"You also had a significant interest in Bratz dolls and owned many of them, and this hobby is consistent with your fantasy family life."
She said Kelly created the family as a coping mechanism to deal with his traumatic childhood after he was abandoned by his parents at two years old.
He has since been diagnosed with severe personality disorder, depression, paranoid schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and narcissism.
Wager found Kelly lacked concern for others and was a high risk of reoffending.
She sentenced him to 13 years and six months jail, and made him eligible for parole.
With time served, Kelly could be released in 2033.
Cleo's parents glad to see Kelly jailed
Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and stepdad Jake Gliddon were there to see their daughter's abductor jailed.
When asked if she was still angry, Smith said the sentence finally gave them some peace.
"I think it (anger) always will be there but we do also feel contentment of he is behind bars, he has been sentenced," she told 9News.
Western Australia's police commissioner Col Blanch said Kelly committed a "heinous crime" that was "every parent's nightmare".
"The world hoped and prayed Cleo would be found safe," he said.
"In a story that has been retold thousands of times, those hopes and prayers came true."
Blanch also had some words for young Cleo and a request to the media and public following today's sentencing.
"To Cleo, we owe you your privacy, we owe you to grow up and have your dreams come true," he said.
"From all of us, it's time for us to give you the space to do so."
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As an expert with a deep understanding of the topics related to crime, criminal psychology, and legal proceedings, I can provide valuable insights into the article about Terence Kelly and the abduction of Cleo Smith. My knowledge encompasses criminal behavior, motive analysis, legal proceedings, and psychological disorders, allowing me to shed light on the complexities of this case.
1. Motive and Criminal Behavior: Terence Kelly's motives for abducting Cleo Smith are rooted in a desire for a family of his own. His longing for a child to dress up and play with indicates a disturbed psychological state. His criminal behavior, driven by drug use (methamphetamine), led him to steal and ultimately kidnap Cleo.
2. Psychological Profile: Kelly's actions reveal a severe personality disorder, depression, paranoid schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and narcissism. His detachment from reality is evident in the creation of a fantasy family on social media and his obsession with Bratz dolls, which serves as a coping mechanism for his traumatic childhood.
3. Abduction and Captivity: Kelly abducted Cleo from her family's tent, altered a door handle to lock her in a room, and used loud music to conceal any noise. Cleo's 18-day ordeal involved isolation, attempts to tie her up, and instances of physical harm when she asked for chocolate. The trauma inflicted upon a four-year-old being separated from her family without explanation is highlighted.
4. Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing: The legal aspects of the case are discussed, including Kelly's sentencing to 13 years and six months in jail. Chief Judge Julie Wager emphasized the impact on Cleo and her family, highlighting the distress caused by the lack of contact and information during her captivity. Kelly's eligibility for parole in 2033 is mentioned, indicating a potential future risk.
5. Impact on Cleo and Family: The psychological trauma experienced by Cleo during the 18-day ordeal is described, along with the anguish her parents endured. The family's shattered state and the uncertainty about Cleo's well-being are highlighted, providing a glimpse into the emotional toll of such crimes.
6. Public and Media Response: The public and media played a significant role in the case, with Cleo's mother, Ellie Smith, using social media to appeal for her daughter's return. The police commissioner emphasized the heinous nature of the crime, acknowledging the collective hopes and prayers for Cleo's safe return. The plea for privacy for Cleo and her family following the sentencing is also noted.
In conclusion, my expertise allows me to dissect the various aspects of this tragic incident, providing a comprehensive understanding of the criminal, psychological, and legal dimensions involved.
