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Boy's terror at snatch bid

Emma Scott
3/ 4/2008

A COUPLE have spoken of their fear after a man tried to abduct their eight-year-old son.

At about 7pm on Monday last week the young boy was walking along Sherbourne Drive in Heywood when he saw a masked man dressed in black crouched behind a car.

Frightened, the young boy started to run away but the offender grabbed him at the turning of Witham Close and picked him up by the waist. The child kicked out and struggled free before running off and raising the alarm.

Following the terrifying incident the boy’s mum and dad said they wanted to warn other parents to be on their guard.

His mum said: "At first I thought he was telling porkies because he said a man had grabbed him, but he was crying."

She added: "We have told him to bite, kick and scream until they let go if anyone tried to grab him.

"The man actually came behind my son and scooped him up. It knocked the air out of his lungs so he couldn’t scream.

"I think what frightened him most was he couldn’t scream because the more he tried the more the man squeezed him harder."

Since the incident the boy has had to sleep in his parents’ room and has had nightmares.

His mum said: "The first couple of nights he was really bad with his dreams. He won’t go out on the street, only to the front garden. I won’t let him go anywhere now. It’s not fair on him.

"It has made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I’m bothered that he might have been watching my son. Now I’m looking at people thinking could it be them."

The offender was in his late teens or early 20s and wearing a black T-shirt, black jeans, black belt with a silver buckle, black zip-up top and workman-like boots that made a booming sound when the offender ran.

His face was completely covered by a black hood with pointy tip and he had facial hair on his chin. He was also said to have white paint on him.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted child abduction but was released without charge.

It is believed a man was out walking his dog at the time who may have seen the incident and police are appealing to this person to come forward.

Detective Inspector Daryl Chadwick, from Rochdale CID, said: "We have not established the motive for this incident, which has clearly left the young boy and his family very upset.

"Inquiries are ongoing to trace the offender and we would particularly like to hear from a man who we believe was out walking his dog in the area at about the time of the incident.

"I would like to reassure the community that this is being treated as an isolated incident and I do not want to cause any alarm among parents.

"I would, however, like to remind parents and young people to take heed of a few safety tips such as not walking home alone, keeping to well lit areas and avoiding shortcuts."

General safety tips include:

• Keep to well lit and busy areas, avoid shortcuts;
• Stick with friends;
• Plan how you are going to get home;
• Be aware of your surroundings;
• Make sure someone knows where you are and what time you are due home;
• Carry a personal attack alarm.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Rochdale CID on 0161 856 4646 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.