Great Cornard: Children Report Being Approached By Man

1 February 2013, 15:44 | Updated: 1 February 2013, 16:38

The have been six different reports about children being followed in Great Cornard.

At around 3:30pm on Thursday 31 January a man approached a 10-year-old boy whilst he was walking along The Drift. The man asked a number of questions about his schooling and his family before the boy ran off.

The man is described as white, around 62-63 years old, approximately 5ft 6ins, of medium to large build, straight dark medium length hair, clean-shaven and with yellow teeth. He was wearing a long black waterproof coat down to his knees, brown or cream corduroy trousers and green laced plimsolls.

A second incident occurred between 3:30pm and 3:45pm Thursday 31 January two 11-year-old boys and a 12-year-old girl were walking together along The Drift when they noticed a man walking behind them. The man followed them into Rede Way and as the group briefly stopped, the man did the same. The group then ran home.

The man is described as white, around 48 years old, with stubble or a short beard, short grey and black hair, and wearing a long dark jacket and dark clothing.

Later, a 9-year-old boy reported that at around 5:30pm on Thursday 31 January a man jumped out of bushes while he was walking along Hartest Way. Police are due to speak to the boy again to ascertain exactly what has occurred.

The man involved in this incident is described as white, aged in his early forties, approximately 5ft 8ins, of medium build with sideburns. He was wearing a black woolly hat with a bobble on top, a black puffa jacket, grey baggy jeans, white trainers and thick black woolly gloves.

Last week police received a report that a 15-year-old girl had been followed part of her way home from school by the same man on two consecutive days. The man did not speak to her and carried on walking when she reached her home address.

The man is described as of large build, approximately 5ft 8ins, with ginger hair, stubble and wearing an unzipped navy jacket with a polo top underneath, black jogging bottoms and trainers.

Police are currently looking at the possibility that the above incidents are linked.

Babergh Inspector Paul Crick said:“We have arranged for officers to patrol key areas around school times in the morning and afternoon and will be working closely with local schools to ensure pupils are aware of the risks of walking alone. While we do not want residents to be alarmed we would ask that parents remain vigilant, children walk to and from school in groups and if anyone sees anyone acting suspiciously to call police immediately.”

Anyone with information in relation to any of the above incidents is asked to contact Sudbury Police on 101.