Friday 17 June 2022 05:22 PM Ex-boyfriend who went missing with teen Marnie Clayton from Atik nightclub ... trends now
A controlling ex-boyfriend who sparked a 48-hour nationwide manhunt after going missing with a teenage girl has been jailed.
Police launched a desperate search for Abid Khan, 22, after he and 18-year-old Marnie Clayton went missing from a nightclub in Windsor, Berkshire.
Such was the concern for Marnie's safety at the time of her disappearance that the police's appeal attracted the attention of internet sleuths from as far away as Australia.
The pair were later found in Basingstoke, Hants, having travelled over 60 miles from Windsor to Southampton where they stayed in a hotel.
Now a court has heard how during the 48 hours in which Marnie was missing, Khan had subjected her to physical abuse.
A judge was told how Khan, who knew had dated Marnie but had previously been told to stay by police due to the 'toxic relationship', shoved her face into a bed.
The court also heard that, having been made aware of the public appeal for her whereabouts, Marnie used Khan's phone to send a 'coded' message to her mother in which she used emojis to secretly call for help.
Marnie told the court that the incident had effected her so badly he had suffered 'flashbacks' of the ordeal.
Now Khan has been jailed for three years, after admitting putting her in fear of violence by harassment.
Police launched a desperate search for Abid Khan, 22, after he and 18-year-old Marnie Clayton (pictured) went missing from a nightclub in Windsor, Berkshire
Now a court has heard how during the 48 hours in which Marnie was missing, Khan (pictured) had subjected her to physical abuse
Reading Crown Court heard that Khan had repeatedly physically, mentally, and emotionally abused teenage Marnie since they first met, when she was only 17 years old.
Prosecuting, Alexander Upton said Marnie initially described him as "nice going", but that things soon changed.
The prosecutor told the court how his behaviour got increasingly controlling and violent and Khan would prevent her from seeing her friends.
The court heard how he often refused to let her leave places or forced her to travel with him.
On the night she went missing, in January this year, Ms Clayton visited Atik Nightclub in Windsor, Berks to celebrate turning 18.
The prosecutor told the court: 'While she was there, she saw Mr Khan who started talking to her.
'She got a call from a male friend and she went to the women's loo to talk but the defendant followed her.
'He told her to give him her new phone number, which she did out of fear.
On the night she went missing, in January this year, Ms Clayton visited Atik Nightclub (pictured) in Windsor, Berks to celebrate turning 18
'Ms Clayton got a taxi with Mr Khan, when he told her to go to Southampton with him because he wanted to tell her something. They got to a hotel and had consensual sex.'
