Headteacher's warning after hooded man tries to 'drag child away' from mum on morning school run
A man tried to ‘drag a child away from a parent’ as they walked to school in Blackburn.
Parents have been made aware of the frightening incident which occurred on Monday, November 17, when a mother was walking with her children to Brookhouse Primary School in Troy Street.
Headteacher Kathryn Forsyth alerted parents in a letter, urging them to keep ‘close supervision’ of their children when walking to and from school.
She said: “Whilst walking, a man in a grey hoodie with the hood over his head approached the parent from behind, put his arm around one of the children and started to drag the child away from the parent.
“At this point, the parent shouted, ‘Excuse me, what are you doing?’ and the person picked up his phone, started staring at it and moved away.”
The child was not harmed but the family were left shaken by the encounter.
Ms Forsyth said the incident happened near the community playground in Calder Street, a short distance from the school gates.
She added: “Please can I stress the importance of close supervision, knowing where your children are and reporting any concerns outside of school to the police immediately.”
The headteacher said her pupils have been warned not to talk to or go anywhere with strangers.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “The matter has been reported to us and we are looking into it.
“Although it is being treated as an isolated incident, reassurance patrols have been stepped up in the area.”