Warning after bid to lure girl into car

PARENTS and children in the Kingston area are being warned about a middle-aged man who tried to lure a schoolgirl into car.

It happened as the 14-year-old was walking home in the early evening after getting off the bus in the village.

She says a man in a small, gold-coloured car drew up alongside her and pestered her to get into the vehicle, claiming he knew where she lived and could give her a lift.

When she refused he persisted but eventually drove off. He then turned the car around and came back towards her, so she ran into a cul-desac to escape and pretended to be calling someone on her mobile phone.

The teenager told her mother about the incident when she got home.

The mother, who does not want to be identified, said: “It was obviously worrying for her but thank god she is a sensible girl and would never get into a stranger’s car.

“He didn’t try to grab her, but you have to wonder what his intentions were because she was obviously a young girl in her uniform.

“I have alerted other parents and the school to be on their guard in case he tries it again.”

The incident happened shortly before 7pm last Friday and the man is said to be middle-aged and balding with a grey fringe and glasses. He also spoke with an Eastern European accent.

Police spokesman Jon Green said: “We’ve spoken to another witness who also saw a gold coloured car and thought it might be a Peugeot with a GB sticker on the rear left side of the vehicle.

“This appears to be an isolated incident, but we would advise parents to make sure their children and teenagers know how to stay safe while out and about.

“There is more advice on our website kent.police.uk”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact DC Barry Carr on 101.