Terence Darrell Kelly pleads guilty to abducting Cleo Smith

There has been a huge development in the case of Cleo Smith after Terence Kelly faced court charged with her abduction.

Terence Darrell Kelly has pleaded guilty to snatching four-year-old Cleo Smith while she was on a family camping trip.

The 36-year-old was dramatically arrested in the West Australian coastal town of Carnarvon in the early hours of November 3 — 18 days after the young girl vanished from the family tent at the remote Quobba Blowholes campsite.

Kelly faced Carnarvon Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from the maximum security Casuarina Prison in Perth where he entered his guilty plea to forcibly taking a child aged under 16.

The matter was committed to the WA District Court for a sentence mention on March 25.

Kelly is also facing other charges, including assaulting a public officer, which he is yet to enter a plea to and that matter was adjourned until February 28.

Cleo’s family were not in court on Monday.

Cleo Smith was rescued from a locked home at Carnarvon. Picture: AFP

Cleo was rescued from Kelly’s locked house after detectives forced their way in. She was alone in a room, playing with toys.

In a clip released by police, the young girl told officers: “M-my name is Cleo.”

Kelly was arrested after he was stopped in his car not far from his house.

He was last seen in public with no shoes, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and shackled as officers from the Department of Justice’s special operations group escorted him onto a plane.

Kelly was then flown from the small coastal town to the state’s capital.

Police revealed Kelly had to be hospitalised twice with self-inflicted injuries while in custody in Carnarvon.

Terence Kelly was last seen in public with no shoes and wearing a long-sleeved white shirt when he was shackled as officers escorted him onto a plane. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Several items were seized from Kelly’s home, including a Bratz doll and colouring pencils.

In the days after she was rescued Cleo’s mum Ellie Smith and stepdad Jake Gliddon praised the officers who helped find their little girl.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the rescue of our daughter Cleo Smith,” a statement from the family read.

“In particular, we would like to thank WA Police, all those involved in the initial search, the Carnarvon community, local businesses and of course our family and friends.”

Cleo’s disappearance made headlines around the world, with a special task force established and a $1m reward was on offer to help solve the mystery.

Western Australia’s Police Minister Paul Papalia welcomed the guilty plea, hailing the police fork for their detective work.

“Today’s guilty plea is confirmation of the excellent policing work and just how strong a case had been presented by the West Australian police force,” he said.

“I’d just like to place on the record again my admiration respect and thanks to the West Australian police force.”

Originally published as Terence Darrell Kelly pleads guilty to abducting Cleo Smith