A girl aged 16 made a suicide pact with her rapist boyfriend because her family disapproved of their relationship.

Steve Barton, 23, and Kayleigh Quinn sparked a major police hunt when they ran away together.

The pair had left a blood-stained note suggesting they were planning to kill themselves pinned to a fence and were missing for 48 hours before being apprehended on Thursday night.

Police finally closed the net on the pair when Kayleigh returned home to Rectory Close, Pulborough, to pick up some belongings but was spotted by her mother, who alerted officers after she escaped through a window.

The pair were found nearby.

Inspector Neil Moscrop, who led the investigation, said: "The contents of the letter was very much along the lines that Steven and Kayleigh were well aware that no one particularly approved of the relationship and the fact that the family were set against it.

"There was an indication in the letter that they were struggling to come to terms with that and may have done something rather extreme because they couldn't see a future together."

Asked if the pair had made a suicide pact, Mr Moscrop said: "That would have been an inference from the letter, yes."

Barton, who was residing at Purbrook, Hampshire, was jailed in 1996 for raping a 92-year-old woman near her late husband's grave at St Mary's Church, Storrington.

He was 15 at the time and was released from prison in August last year after serving six years.

Kayleigh was reunited with her family last night and is believed to have gone home with her mother.

Mr Moscrop said: "We've finished all we have to do and she has been left to get over it.

"She seemed calm when we last spoke to her. My impression is that it must have been a bit of a confusing situation for her.

"I think in her own mind she has feelings for Steven and cannot understand what the problem is.

"I would be satisfied that she knew the reputation of Steven but whether or not she knew what he has been convicted of, I don't know."

Barton was arrested in connection with alleged bail offences and was taken to Crawley police station for questioning.

He appeared before Crawley magistrates yesterday where he admitted breaching bail conditions and was remanded in custody.

Police said Barton and Kayleigh had appeared to have no plan as they slept rough in woodland around the Kirdford area.

Mr Moscrop said: "They obviously weren't intending to be found and they were keeping off the main roads so as not to be seen."

The role of members of the public who reported sightings had been "absolutely vital" in reassuring family members and in helping police narrow down the search area.

The pair had escaped at one point before finally being caught in Pulborough.

He said: "We knew the Kirdford area was a good location because there had been a number of sightings and we intensified our activity there and we were actually getting more during the day.

"They were seen in Kirdford by the roadside but when we got there they had gone.

"They said later they had got a lift back.