12-year-old girl screams and breaks free after man takes hold of arm: Skelmersdale
(WN8 - Saturday, 10 September, 2011)

Detectives in Skelmersdale are appealing for witnesses following a report of an attempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl in the town on Thursday night (8th September 2011).

The incident is believed to have taken place around 8.30pm on Feltons when a man approached the young girl who had been out playing with friends and momentarily taken hold of her.

The girl screamed and broke free and the man then ran off along Feltons towards Birch Green Road.

Fortunately the girl was unhurt.

The suspect is described as:

• a white male
• aged 40
• six feet tall
• medium build
• dark sideburns and grey stubble
• wearing dark tracksuit bottoms and a red baseball cap

The same man was seen to be loitering within the wooded area adjacent to Feltons, Skelmersdale in the thirty minutes prior to the offence and police are urging anybody that saw him or witnessed anything suspicious to contact them.

DI Graham Coates from Skelmersdale CID said:

"This is a serious incident which thankfully is incredibly rare but we need the public's help to catch the man the man responsible.

"I would like to reassure the local community that we have a team of detectives investigating this incident and extra patrols have been deployed to the area.

"I would urge parents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police.

"Should any resident have any concerns they can contact us or speak to their local officer."

Police will be carrying out house to house enquires in the area but anyone who believes they have seen this man in the Feltons area or with information relevant to this incident is asked to contact Lancashire Police on 0845 125 3545.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police Force: Lancashire

Address:
Feltons
Skelmersdale
LANCASHIRE
WN8