Five months after he was accused of fondling and trying to rape a 13-year-old girl, Noel Cromwell was charged with abducting her.

Cromwell, a Campbellville resident, had the new charge instituted against him on Monday shortly after he left the courtroom on the two current matters.

Cromwell on April 7 appeared before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys charged with indecent assault and attempting to commit rape. The magistrate released Cromwell on $25,000 on the indecent assault matter and remanded him to prison on the other allegation.

The acts were allegedly committed in D'Urban Backlands on March 30. When the matter was called in court yesterday, Cromwell was not present.

Prosecutor Maxine Graham told the court that the new matter was instituted against Cromwell after he had left court. The matter has been fixed for September 27.