Ayrshire Post

Mum’s terror on the shore

- Sarah Hilley

A young mum was horrified after a Syrian refugee lifted up her one- year- old daughter at Troon beach.

Eilidh Moo re was approached by a group of men behind the Walker Hall and one of them started stroking her baby Millie’s cheek last Thursday afternoon.

She asked him to stop but instead he hoisted up the tot - causing Eilidh to grab her child back.

The concerned mother vented her fury on social media calling for the man to be locked up.

But police are putting the incident down to a “cultural misunderst­anding”.

Describing the seafront drama on social media, nail technician Eilidh said: “One of them ( men) sat behind

Millie and started stroking her face, asking if she was a girl or boy.

“I asked him to leave her alone, which he ignored and at this point I felt my daughter’s vulnerabil­ity and asked him a second time to leave her alone.”

Eilidh, of Prestwick, said he “grabbed her under the arms like a bear hug, jumped up and said: ‘ I’m taking her’.

She described snatching her daughter and the men walking away “laughing”.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police attended and the man along with two other men were traced. Following enquiries two men were given a police warning and advice was given to all.

“After striking up a conversati­on it appears one of the men attempted to lift the child. However this was believed to be a genuine misunderst­anding and advice was provided.”

It is believed the men were a large group of Syrian refugees from Renfrewshi­re.

But Eilidh blasted that the men “knew exactly what they were doing” and said it was “disgusting”.

She added: “I am now terrified of taking my children anywhere and I am so thankful my daughter is well and safe.”

Her social media post which contained a photo of the men ( pictured) was shared repeatedly on Facebook.

She spoke of being in hysterics and thanked two “kind ladies” who supported her through the ordeal.

 ??  ?? Daft Child lifter was part of this group
Daft Child lifter was part of this group

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