Van driver’s bid to entice schoolgirl

Van driver’s bid to entice schoolgirl

29 May 2013

A KILLYLEAGH mother has appealed to parents to warn their children not to approach strangers.

The appeal by Louise Murray comes after a man driving a white coloured Transit-type van at the Comber Road estate last week beckoned her 11 year-old daughter Hayley towards him.

The man, who had a small dog with him, told the schoolgirl he had sweets for her when he stopped his vehicle at the Highbury Avenue area last Tuesday afternoon around 3.30pm. But the 11 year-old ran into a neighbour’s garden at which point the van driver turned his vehicle and drove out of the estate.

The girl’s mother, who has informed police about what happened, said her daughter had just returned home from school when she went back outside again to meet her friends.

“When Hayley went outside her friends were not about and she was on her way back home when the van stopped. The driver of the vehicle said he had sweets and waved at Hayley to approach him but she ran into a neighbour’s garden and I am so glad that she did.

“What to do when approached by strangers is something Hayley and I have talked about and I am glad she ran away. I hope other parents reinforce the message not to approach strangers to their children.”

The schoolgirl’s mother said the Housing Executive is carrying out repairs to a number of homes at the Comber Road estate and that there are work vans driving in and out all the time.

“Hayley has always been told never to speak to strangers and I am so glad she heeded this advice last week,” said Louise.

“As soon as the van stopped and the driver motioned Hayley towards him she knew immediately that something wasn’t right and ran away. I am so thankful she did this.”

Louise added: “I know all parents always warn their children not to approach strangers but I would appeal to them to reinforce this message. You can never be too careful.”

Councillor Billy Walker said he is concerned at what happened last week, but has praised the schoolgirl for having the presence of mind to run away. He has also backed her mother’s appeal to parents to warn their children never to approach strangers.

“It is concerning that something like this could happen in Killyleagh. Increasingly, children are very street wise but it does no harm at all to reinforce the message never to approach strangers,” he said.

“Police are aware of what happened and hope-fully they will be stepping patrols in and around the town to prevent this sort of incident from happening again.”

Police investigating the incident have appealed to anyone who may have spotted a white Transit-type van in the Comber Road estate in Killyleagh on Tuesday afternoon of last week to contact them at Downpatrick PSNI station.