A man said to be in his mid-40s was taken into custody by the Clarendon police on Tuesday and charged with harbouring a 14 -year-old juvenile.

The man has been identified as Courtney Prince, unemployed, of Spaldings Hill in Clarendon.

According to reports, the police, acting on information, went to a house close to a prominent high school in the area, where the juvenile was allegedly seen hanging out with Prince.

Checks were made inside the house and the 14-year-old juvenile was seen hiding underneath a bed. Prince was taken into custody.

Inspector C. Ramsey, who is in charge of the Spaldings Police Station, reported that the juvenile turned up late for school on Tuesday morning but was denied entry due to a lock-gate policy at the institution.

He said the female, upon realising that she had to wait until the time of the gate's reopening, ended up at the house. Inspector Ramsey said concerned persons called the police after they saw the youngster, who should have been at school.

The lawman pointed out that the police went to the house almost immediately after receiving the report and found the juvenile. She was removed and taken to the doctor and an examination was carried out. The examination, he said, revealed that she was not molested, and so she was returned to the school. The juvenile has been placed under observation for the next three weeks and is expected to be at school every day when classes are in session.

Prince is to appear in the Mandeville RM Court early next month to answer to the charge.