Kidnapper Cleo Smith beat her when she asked for chocolate

Terence Kelly held Cleo Smith captive in the bedroom of his home in Caernarvon, Western Australia. Credit: Tamati Smith/Getty Images/Getty Images AsiaPac

The man who kidnapped four-year-old Cleo Smith while she was on holiday with her family in Australia kept her in a locked room and beat her when she asked for chocolate.

Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, confessed during his trial to kidnapping Cleo from a tent while she was sleeping with her family at a popular coastal tourist destination and holding her captive for more than two weeks in 2021.

Details of the child's ordeal were revealed on Wednesday when the Perth District Court sentenced him to 13 years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty.

Her abduction more than 550 miles north of Perth sparked one of the biggest manhunts in Western Australia in October 2021.

Police eventually found her in jail in the bedroom of Kelly Council House in Caernarvon.

'I used duct tape, but it didn't work'

Speaking at the sentencing Wednesday, Chief Justice Julie Wager said the girl begged to be returned to her parents and cried frequently during her 18 days in captivity.

The court heard that Kelly told police after his arrest that he had «been a little rude to Cleo on several occasions» and lost his temper when she became «bossy» and asked for chocolate.

During police questioning, he confessed that he hit the child, but insisted he didn't mean to hurt her much.

The court heard that Kelly told the police after how to arrest him for «beating Cleo a little a few times».

One day he unsuccessfully tried to tie her up.

«I used duct tape, but it didn't work,» he said.

«So I thought, 'I'm not going to tie her with duct tape anymore.' He said she was «a bit of a wrestler.»

Personality disorder

On another occasion, Cleo heard her name mentioned on the news on the radio and said «they called her name,» the judge said.

Fearing that the neighbors would hear the child's voice, Kelly turned the radio on full volume so that people outside would not hear her.

Kelly, who was obsessed with dolls and surrounded himself at home with Bratz toys, Sudu reported that he suffers from a personality disorder and yearns for his own family.

The judge said he decided to create his own imaginary family as a coping mechanism to cope with a traumatic childhood.

He was abandoned by his parents when he was two years old and was using methamphetamine when he kidnapped the child.

Judge Weiger said that she was taking Kelly's drugs and his complex nature made him abusive.

He would be eligible for parole in 2033.