EXCLUSIVE

TWO SCANTILY clad teenage girls were left lost and stranded by a lonely roadside by police in freezing conditions in the early hours of the morning after their male friend was arrested for suspected drink driving.

The two officers, who whisked away their "prisoner" leaving the puzzled pair to walk two miles along deserted country roads at 2.30am, told them before they went: "Sorry, there is no room in our car for you."

Astonishingly one hour later as the friends, dressed in skimpy glad-rags and stilettoes, trekked to Wilmslow in search of help they stumbled across the same policemen who were returning their friend - who had successfully passed the breath test - back to his car.

But instead of picking up the youngsters and taking all three to the red Renault Clio left up at Wilmslow Park two miles away, the officers dumped the driver on the road.

And when they asked for a lift they were told: "Sorry, we are going on a job."

Last night (Tuesday) one of the girls, Fabienne Gawne of Birkdale Close, Macclesfield, said: "I told them that job could have been two young girls who had been raped and murdered but they just laughed and drove off."

Operations Commander Superintendent Richard Strachan said his officers would be expected to consider each case on its merits.

He said: "Our policy is that we are not insured for carrying passengers for non-police purposes.

"If a particular individual or individuals were vulnerable or considered high risk then their welfare issues would be addressed.

"This will be considered on an individual basis dependent on numerous criteria such as age, whether they were adults, whether they have means of communication such as mobile phones and do they have the necessary funds to pay for a taxi?"

Fabienne and close chum, Danielle Peberdy, of Madron Avenue, Macclesfield - who celebrated her eighteenth birthday yesterday (Tuesday) - had gone out socialising with pals last Saturday.

After a pleasant evening in the Bollin Fee in neighbouring Wilmslow, the peckish girls bought some takeaway food and were offered a lift home to Macclesfield by Sam Clarke, 18, of Bollington.

They left the centre of Wilmslow travelling along Macclesfield Road at about 2.30am on Sunday morning.

Sam was pulled up by a police patrol car with flashing lights and he was breathalysed and arrested after the first test proved to be slightly over the limit.

Danielle, who was sober, said: "The police officer told us that Sam was drunk and that there was no room in the car for us.

"I looked in the back of their car and, other then Sam, there was only coats and hats."

She said: "They told us we were going to have to walk - but we didn't know where the hell we were."

Fabienne added: "The policemen didn't care and just got in the car and drove off - they didn't even ask if we had a mobile phone and we were dressed in next to nothing."

In temperatures close to freezing Fabienne was wearing tiny shorts and a sleeveless tank top whilst Danielle only had three-quarter length trousers and a minuscule cardigan.

The friends, who each caught a cold as a result of their ordeal, began the trek back to Wilmslow to try and find someone to help them.

Danielle, a call centre worker for Harris Interactive in Macclesfield, said: "There was only about two street lights on the road and there wasn't a footpath for the majority of the journey."

As they tottered in their high heels along the road motorists tooted their horns at the girls while leering drunken men passed them by.

It all became too much for young Fallibroome Sixth Form student, Fabienne, who started crying hysterically. Two people offered lifts but fearing for their own safety they wisely turned them down.

As they reached Wilmslow they came across the policemen who had arrested their friend.

The officers pulled over, dropped off their passenger, and then drove off.

Fabienne said: "They said that Sam was not over the limit any more and said "are you all right luv?" - which I thought was very patronising."

The trio then caught a cab back to the stranded vehicle - which cost £4.50 - and arrived home bedraggled - going to bed at about 4.30am.

The next day A-Level student, Fabienne, went with her concerned parents to Wilmslow Police Station to make a complaint, but they were told that the officers did everything by the book.

Fabienne said: "They said it was our fault that we got into the car and that the only thing I could complain about was their disregard for our safety - but there seemed to be about 100 forms to fill in - so I left it."

Danielle said: "Why didn't they ring our parents? Two young girls out on their own and they can't do anything about it - that's just out of order!"

A police spokesman said: "There was a male arrested for a breath test and when in custody he was under the limit and was released."