Serial child stalker arrested
A woman with a history of intimidating children has been arrested amid allegations of her watching children in a Christchurch park.
Margaret Dodds was spotted by a concerned parent at a Cashmere park watching children, according to a social media post on Sunday that warned others to be vigilant.
Police arrested a 63-year-old for trespass on Cashmere Rd on Sunday, a spokeswoman said. Understood to be Dodds, she is due to appear in court today.
Dodds has a long history of following and lingering around children – behaviour described by one judge as ‘‘very frightening’’.
She has been described as highly motivated to seek out children, particularly pre-pubescent boys.
Dodds has been a long-term resident at the Seager Clinic, an inpatient mental health service at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The Canterbury District Health Board has been approached for comment.
Her lawyer at a previous appearance said her condition made it ‘‘mission impossible’’ to stay out of trouble.
She has assault and trespass convictions, and has been trespassed from buses, malls and public facilities. An intensive supervision sentence, which included a condition that she not have any contact with children under 16, finished in mid-2018.
Warning messages have been posted around school staffroom noticeboards.