Police are investigating after a 12-year-old girl, who had not arrived at school on Monday morning (January 26), was found in a car port in St Leonards-on-Sea.
The girl was found by the property owner in Battle Crescent at 11.20am. She told officers that she had been dropped off near Helenswood Academy by her father at 8.30am and was walking at the junction of The Ridge and Elridge Way when a man in a silver car called out to her and asked if she wanted a lift. She ran back towards Harrow Lane and down the footpath alongside Beaulieu Gardens towards the Harrow Lane recreation ground.
She described the man as white, around 40, of thin build, with short black hair styled in a fringe. She said that he followed her down the footpath, but there were no further words exchanged between them. The car was silver, had tinted rear passenger windows and Monster Drink stickers in the back window.
Detective Inspector Rob Morland said: "We are treating this as a suspicious act, although I would stress that the girl was not attacked or physically touched in any way. It may be that the man's actions were completely innocent, but we do need to speak to him or any witnesses.
"If you were in the area between 8.30 and 11.20am and saw the girl, the car or anyone acting suspiciously, please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 448 of 26/01."
--- Note to readers: This message has been disseminated by Sussex Police - please visit their official website for further information. Reported by Sussex Police 2 hours ago.
The girl was found by the property owner in Battle Crescent at 11.20am. She told officers that she had been dropped off near Helenswood Academy by her father at 8.30am and was walking at the junction of The Ridge and Elridge Way when a man in a silver car called out to her and asked if she wanted a lift. She ran back towards Harrow Lane and down the footpath alongside Beaulieu Gardens towards the Harrow Lane recreation ground.
She described the man as white, around 40, of thin build, with short black hair styled in a fringe. She said that he followed her down the footpath, but there were no further words exchanged between them. The car was silver, had tinted rear passenger windows and Monster Drink stickers in the back window.
Detective Inspector Rob Morland said: "We are treating this as a suspicious act, although I would stress that the girl was not attacked or physically touched in any way. It may be that the man's actions were completely innocent, but we do need to speak to him or any witnesses.
"If you were in the area between 8.30 and 11.20am and saw the girl, the car or anyone acting suspiciously, please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 448 of 26/01."
--- Note to readers: This message has been disseminated by Sussex Police - please visit their official website for further information. Reported by Sussex Police 2 hours ago.