The family of a five-year-old girl who vanished in the Northern Territory has issued a poignant plea to her alleged kidnapper, urging for her safe return as the search enters its fifth day.

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The youngster was last observed at 11:30 p.m., hand in hand with Jefferson Lewis. Authorities confirmed yesterday that they suspect he escorted the little girl away from the campsite.

“There was nothing I could do except cry,” expressed a family member.

“She was such a lovely, sweet, and quiet child,” he added.

Robin shared that he realized his granddaughter was missing while attending the Anzac Day memorial in the vicinity.

“I heard it was my granddaughter who was being snatched up and [had been] taken off by a man from prison,” he said.

Lewis had been released from jail just six days before Sharon went missing, charged for violent offences including assault and domestic violence.

Police found the items of clothing on the riverbank at the back of the Old Timers Camp where Sharon was last seen on Sunday, but have only just revealed their findings.

Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Malley said the shirt found by police is Lewis’ ”distinctive” yellow and black shirt captured on police bodycam footage when officers visited the Old Timers Camp earlier on Saturday for an unrelated mental health call out.

A doona cover was also found alongside the shirt and children’s underwear.

Robin appealed through the media for Lewis to “listen” to him.

“I want you to send that baby back. She is our baby. It’s our kid … she is just too small. Please, can you bring her back? We want to be back safe.”

He appealed for anyone who spotted the pair to contact him or police as soon as possible.

Robin also said Sharon had trouble communicating at times.

“She didn’t have really have a voice … she’s just been using a hand signal,” he said. 

Local MP and Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Speaker Robyn Lambley told Today this morning the whole community had been mobilised in the search.

“We have all been out there looking for her … the whole town is all about finding her.”

She said the small community of Old Timers Camp was a “notoriously hard place to live”.

The widening manhunt has also reached interstate, with Western Australian police contacting Lewis’ wife and children in Bolga, who police say are cooperating with authorities.

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