Cleo Smith: Accused Terence Kelly on way to maximum security prison

The man charged with abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith has landed in Perth and is on his way to a maximum-security prison.

The man charged with abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith has landed in Perth and is on his way to a maximum-security prison.

They arrived at Jandakot Airport, in Perth’s south, a couple of hours later and he was whisked away in a highly secured van.

Photos of Kelly boarding the Cessna 441 in Carnarvon show him looking towards the media pack.

Kelly was seen Friday afternoon under police guard, wearing handcuffs and shackles.

He boarded a plane while taken into custody by members of the Special Operations Group at Carnarvon airport.

Western Australia’s Department of Justice confirmed Kelly was being escorted and transferred from Carnarvon to Perth.

“The prisoner will be transferred to a maximum security facility,” a statement read.

Four heavily armed prison officers landed in Carnarvon on Friday to transport Mr Kelly to Perth.

A media scrum formed around the officers.

Terence Darrell Kelly boards a plane in Carnarvon. Picture: Getty

The 36-year-old had a fascination with children’s dolls and kept dozens of them in his home.

Kelly was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after the girl was allegedly found locked away at his house. She had been missing for 18 days.

He frequently bought Disney princesses and other girls’ toys from a toy store in Carnarvon – something that did not trigger alarm for locals because he is known to have young children in his extended family.

He is pictured on social media with Bratz dolls and wearing T-shirts with cartoons on them. Other images appear to show him travelling in a vehicle alongside dolls.

Terence Darrell Kelly boards a plane after being taken into custody by members of the Special Operations Group at Carnarvon airport. Picture: Getty

Members of the Special Operations Group arrive at Carnarvon airport to take Terence Darrell Kelly into custody in Carnarvon. Picture: Getty

Shopkeepers in Carnarvon have reportedly been asked by police to hand over their CCTV footage. Some have said they saw him sometime in the last three weeks.

“He was in here three or four times a year buying girls’ toys – Disney princesses and other things like that,” one worker told The Australian.

Staff were late on Thursday searching CCTV security footage for him.

Kelly was arrested from a car about the same time Cleo was rescued by detectives, who found in a locked room playing with toys.

Terence Darrell Kelly with his Bratz doll collection. Picture: Supplied

After 30 hours of interrogation by police, Kelly appeared barefoot and wearing a black T-shirt in the Carnarvon Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Kelly, flanked by two police officers, appeared agitated and took a while to acknowledge his name before nodding to indicate he understood the charges.

The Australian reports that Kelly uttered several outbursts during the hearing including: “I’m coming for you”.

Cleo Smith with parents mother Ellie Smith and Stepfather Jake Gliddon. Picture: Colin Murty

He then is said to have asked the magistrate: “What the f**k are the media doing here?“. The magistrate replied, “It’s an open court”.

Meanwhile, WA Premier Mark McGowan said his short trip to Carnarvon on Thursday was “a very uplifting experience”.

“I really like the police officers. They were great people,” he told reporters on Friday.

“The commissioner ushered me into a room, and there were about 60 men and women standing there in suits — a very foreboding group of people that he then invited me to speak to.

“But they were determined and committed, and they did a wonderful job.

“Everyone I spoke to was nice and knockabout, but they had an underlying professionalism that you could feel.”

Originally published as Cleo Smith: Accused Terence Kelly on way to maximum security prison