Dramatic footage of the moment a paedophile was arrested on a plane as he tried to flee the country, four days after having sex with a 14-year-old girl, has been released by police.

A video shows 34-year-old Diiriye Ali-Jamac - who had a one-way ticket to Ethiopia - being detained by officers at Heathrow airport on 2 May, just 30 minutes before the flight was due to take-off.

He was picked up less than three hours after a "wanted marker" was placed on the police national computer after it flagged that he was at the airport.

Image: Diiriye Ali-Jamac was arrested 30 minutes before his plane was due to take off

Ali-Jamac, from Feltham, Middlesex, was then taken to Staines Police Station for questioning, where he was later charged and remanded in custody.

The teenage girl's ordeal started on Sunday 28 April, when her mother reported her missing.

She was found the following morning at Hounslow train station.

After specialist officers worked with her and her family, she eventually told police that she had arranged to meet a man on WhatsApp, who she only knew by the nickname "Diddie".

She said he took her to a hotel and had sex with her.

After examining her phone and looking at the background of a selfie she had taken early on Monday morning, detectives were able to work out the hotel where the offence took place.

Image: Ali-Jamac admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child

Image: The suspect was arrested shortly before take-off

Ali-Jamac had checked in with a false name and paid cash, but officers were able to identify a suspect vehicle from CCTV in the car park.

He was jailed for six years on 19 August after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child at at Kingston Crown Court.

Police have praised the victim for her "bravery" in speaking out.

Detective Constable Sally Michail, from North Surrey Police, said: "She was completely taken in by this man, who was 20 years her senior and someone she thought she could trust.

Image: Ali-Jamac was jailed for six years on 19 August

"As soon as he became aware that police were on his trail, he tried to leave the country but fortunately we intercepted him as he boarded his flight.

"I would like to thank the team who worked on this investigation for the sensitive and professional way they dealt with the victim to gain her trust so that she felt supported in giving her evidence.

"And for their relentless pursuit of Ali-Jamac, with officers working a 28 hour shift, including trawling through CCTV footage from the hotel, to ensure that he was identified as quickly as possible."