School warns parents to be vigilant after man ‘riding a small child's bicycle' tries to grab girl in park
A PRIMARY school has posted a warning to parents after reports a man tried to grab a young girl near a park.
The school, which teaches children aged two to eleven, said that the warning had been sent out to all schools in the local area.
2
Two young girls were allegedly approached by an adult man described as Asian, wearing a black tracksuit and riding a small child's bicycle.
He was acting in an "inappropriate manner" and made an "offensive comment" before trying to grab one of the girls.
They urged parents and carers to "remain vigilant" and remind children to "avoid speaking to strangers," as well as reporting anything suspicious to a trusted adult or the authorities.
Councillor Emily Mort said that the Tonge and Haulgh councillors were aware of the reports which were made to police this morning.
She told
2
Tonge Moor Academy in Brierwood, Bolton issued the following statement:
"We would like to make you aware of a concerning incident that recently occurred near Tonge Moor Park.
"Two young girls were approached by an adult male, described as Asian, wearing a black tracksuit and riding a small child's bicycle.
Most read in The Sun
"The man attempted to engage them in an inappropriate manner and made an offensive comment. He then tried to grab one of the girls.
"The girls were able to run away and safely reach a nearby home.
"It has also been brought to our attention that similar incidents involving a man matching this description may have occurred previously in the area.
"We urge all parents and carers to remain vigilant and remind children to avoid speaking to strangers, and report anything suspicious immediately to a trusted adult or the authorities."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dublin Live
2 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Irish woman ‘in fear' ahead of release of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Irishwoman who alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann says she fears he will seek her out following his release from prison. Christian Brueckner, 48, is due to be freed from a German jail in September after completing his sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old US woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005. Hazel Behan, 41, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she fears the German man will "hunt her down". Brueckner was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan at her apartment in Praia da Rocha in Portugal's Algarve. She told The Sun: "His sentence may be ending but mine never did. I have lived with fear every day for 21 years. "Fear that I'll see him. Fear that he'll find out where I live and hunt me down. I also have fear that he'll do to someone else what he did to me. "I've called him out in a public forum and I have genuine concern he could confront me. "I wouldn't put anything past a person like him. "If he is released, I will worry for every woman and child who, like me, believes the justice system is protecting them. "A leopard doesn't change his spots." Later this year Ms Behan expects to discover the outcome of her High Court appeal in Germany against his acquittal for raping her, another woman and a girl in Portugal in 2004. (Image: Phil Harris) Ms Behan has accused the Portuguese authorities of alleged "inaction" in identifying and prosecuting Brueckner. In April, she lodged an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Portuguese authorities over their handling of her attack. Ms Behan also expressed her sympathy and support for the Leicestershire-based family of Madeleine who went missing in Praia da Luz while on holiday with her family in 2007 when she was three years old. (Image: PA) "As a parent, I cannot begin to imagine what they have gone through and continue to go through every day for the past 18 years," she said. German and Portuguese police and firefighters carried out a three-day search of an area near Praia da Luz last week in the latest efforts to find out what happened to the missing child. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Goading' yob who got cop sacked after he was rammed off e-bike is locked up after ANOTHER police chase
A "GOADING" yob who got a cop sacked when he was rammed off his e-bike has been jailed after another police chase. Mason McGarry was riding with pal Dominic Mizzi when they were police car. 5 Mason McGarry was rammed off his e-bike by a veteran cop Credit: Solent 5 The serial offender is now finally behind bars Credit: Solent Footage showed the teens being catapulted across the wet road in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, before McGarry attempted to flee. Veteran officer Bradshaw was cleared of causing serious injury by dangerous driving but was forced to leave his job after 22 years. At the time, the court heard serial offender McGarry had 42 previous convictions - including for robbery, theft and dangerous driving. The 19-year-old is now finally behind bars after he mounted the pavement in a friend's car at 60mph and hit a lorry while being chased by cops - just a month after the e-bike crash. Read more news Portsmouth Crown Court heard McGarry was driving his sister and two others in the borrowed Vauxhall when his friend called police to say the car had not been returned. Officers began a pursuit through Chichester as the teen drove at 60mph in a 40mph zone in a bid to shake them off. But McGarry tried to "squeeze" in past the lorry and instead mounted the pavement and hit the vehicle - causing £1,200 worth of damage. The thug pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop and driving without insurance . Most read in The Sun The court heard his list of previous convictions was "unenviable" and includes offences of drug possession, trafficking and two dangerous driving convictions. McGarry was sent to a young offender's institution for 12 months. Sentencing, Judge Jodie Mittell said: "The concern I obviously have is that the fifth time he will kill someone. "That could be his sister." At PC Bradshaw's trial in February, the court heard the crash took place while the officer was driving a marked Ford Focus. He said he tried to follow the e-bike after it rode past his car on the pavement in an attempt to "goad" him. Bradshaw said the same bike later pulled in front of him which is when he chose to make "tactical contact" at around 30mph. But he claimed only he "nudged" the electric bike with the bumper of his vehicle and that it was Mizzi's "own stupid fault". Bradshaw, who is now retired, added: "It was light contact, it was light enough, there was not a blemish on my police car. "I believed it was a justified, necessary action." During a voluntary interview with police, he also branded McGarry a "feral" teenager and someone who "just doesn't get it, just doesn't stop". A jury took just over an hour to reach their verdict and clear Bradshaw of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was also found not guilty of a charge of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention. The retired cop later claimed his colleagues are now fearful of taking direct action in dangerous situations because of the potential consequences. 5 PC Bradshaw was cleared of any wrongdoing 5 He told how he was 'goaded' by McGarry Credit: Solent 5 McGarry crashed a car into a lorry a month after the e-bike incident Credit: Solent
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment thug smashes ex's doorbell cam before setting house on fire & killing her dog – hours after being FREED by cops
THIS is the moment a thug smashed up his ex's doorbell camera before he set her home on fire, killing her dog. Drunk Advertisement 6 Adrian West outside Louise Simpson's house, with a rock in his hand Credit: SWNS 6 Louise Simpson, with her beloved pet dog Credit: Supplied 6 Louise's house after the devastating fire that tore it apart Credit: SWNS He had subjected her to months of violent attacks including strangling, punching and kicking. She kicked him out of her house in Crawley, Sussex, but the 61-year-old returned and smashed her doorbell camera using a rock. Louise, 53, called the police and West spent a night in the cells before being released without charge the following day. But the violent thug returned to her house just hours afterwards and set the porch on fire as she slept. Advertisement Read more Louise's neighbours frantically woke her up and she scrambled to escape as the house was engulfed in flames and thick smoke. The fire savagely tore through her home, leaving it in ruins. Her beloved British Bulldog Peggy was frozen in terror under the bed - and Louise was forced to abandon her in order to save her own life. Firefighters rescued Peggy from the house but were unable to resuscitate her. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive West has now been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to arson and a string of assaults on Louise. She is now campaigning for a change in the law consider companion animals as sentient beings rather than property as they are currently seen - find her Reliving the arrest, Louise said: "They police came out and arrested him. "I was sobbing, saying: 'Whatever happens, I just don't want him to be able to come near me again'. So he was kept in custody overnight. Advertisement "They called me about 10.45am the next morning and said that he was going to be released with no further action. "I said: 'Well, what do I do? He's going to come back.' And they said they can't do anything unless he does something more. "They genuinely seemed to be more worried about how abusive he'd been to the arresting officers the day before." Louise called police on September 13 last year when a drunk West tried to smash her door and Ring doorbell camera with a rock. Advertisement She wouldn't open the door and called the police. He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and held overnight at a local police station. Louise was told they could not take further action because she had not signed the witness statement she had provided. Fearing that West would return to her house the following day, she blocked the front door with a toolbox and stockpiled food for a few days. Advertisement She was "shattered" and laid down for a nap. A heavy sleeper, she awoke at 3.16pm to her neighbours raising the alarm that her house was on fire. Fire forensics later told Louise they believe he used white spirit as an accelerant. Three-year-old Peggy hid under the bed and was too heavy for Louise to drag her out. "If she decided she wasn't going to move, you could not move her," Louise said. "I was desperately trying, but I couldn't breathe, so I ran down the stairs. Advertisement "I pulled the toolbox out the way and ran the door, and I thought: 'Somebody will help me', because I obviously wasn't realising quite how bad it was at that point. "I ran back upstairs, and I said: 'I've got to get Peggy. Please help me get Peggy.' But my neighbours said: 'You've got to get out.' "I was trying to cover my mouth with my hands and putting my T-shirt over my mouth but because the smoke was so thick I couldn't breathe." Louise stayed with her son Connor, 28, after the fire. Advertisement She said: "For about four or five days, I couldn't eat. I just laid on the sofa. I didn't wash, didn't brush my teeth. I was just crying non-stop. I couldn't move off the sofa. I couldn't take it all in." She now stays between her Connor's house and a friend's in nearby Crawley. The council offered her alternative accommodation but she prefers to move back into her house once it is repaired in about a year. She said: "I've lived in that home for 28 years. I raised my son there. I've got good memories there as well." Advertisement Her possessions suffered fire, smoke or water damage. Louise lost personal photos, her mum's ashes, a hairbrush which had her mum's hair still in it, an elephant made for her by her daughter-in-law out of her mum's clothes and Connor's baby clothes she was saving for her grandchildren. West, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to arson with intent, criminal damage, non-fatal strangulation, common assault and two counts of actual bodily harm on May 2. He was sentenced to six years and three months in jail. Advertisement Louise is upset Peggy's death was not considered in the sentencing. She wants offenders to be punished for killing companion animals like dogs and cats. She added: "Peggy's life was given as much value as a bookcase. "She was my absolute world. What I used to go through with him, she was the one constant that was there by my side; my best friend." A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "West was arrested on 13 September 2024 on suspicion of criminal damage and spent the night in custody. He was released without charge as the victim did not wish to sign a statement at the time." Advertisement The Ministry of Justice says it has no plans to change the law. 6 The fire savagely tore through her home, leaving it in ruins Credit: SWNS 6 Louise Simpson's dog Peggy, who died in the fire Credit: SWNS 6 Adrian West was sentenced to six years and three months in jail Credit: SWNS Advertisement
