Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, on Monday admitted taking the four-year-old from a tent at the remote Blowholes campsite last year.

Appearing by videolink in Carnarvon Magistrates Court, the only time he spoke was to say “yeah, guilty” when asked to confirm his lawyer’s statement that he was willing to enter the plea to the charge.

Otherwise Kelly, 36, did not move, fidget or react to the court as the matter of forcibly taking a child under 16 was adjourned to Perth District Court on March 20.

Kelly is also facing other criminal charges, including assaulting a public officer. Those matters have been adjourned to a later date. Kelly remains in custody.

Cleo was found alive and well in early November, 18 days after she went missing from the campsite.

She was rescued from a property just minutes from her family home in the nearby town of Carnarvon, almost 1000km north of Perth.

Police forced entry to the home and found the little girl alone in a room, physically unharmed and playing with toys.

Kelly was arrested on a nearby street around the same time. He is alleged to have acted alone and is yet to enter a plea to his other charges.

Police have said he has no connection to Cleo’s family.

Kelly was shackled and accompanied by armed riot squad guards on a charter flight from Carnarvon to Perth after his first court appearance.

The extra security was put in place after Kelly was twice hospitalised with self-inflicted injuries while in custody.

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