Warning after teenager approached by pervert near school

11:40am Wednesday 2nd July 2008

A PERVERT targeted a teenager in broad daylight outside her school as she waited to be collected by her mum.

Sophie Robson, 16, said today she had been left “petrified” by the incident, which occurred near the junction of The Mount and Albemarle Road.

The All Saints’ RC School pupil was sitting on a bench yesterday morning waiting for her mum to take her to an open day at York College when the man sat down next to her.

He propositioned her and made lewd sexual comments.

Sophie shouted at him to stop and the man eventually walked away. He repeatedly looked back at her, before heading along Tadcaster Road.

Sophie, who waived her right to anonymity so she could warn others, said: “I was petrified. It was horrible. I got really upset and cried.”

She said: “People need to be careful and if strangers come up, not to do what they say. I was shocked, but I’m all right now.”

Her mum, Jeanette Brown, said: “I want to warn other parents and children at the school to be on alert because these people are out there waiting for children.

“It may have been months and months without anything happening, but they are there. People should go out in pairs or in groups.”

Ms Brown also criticised police for taking so long to respond to Sophie’s 999 call, which was made straight after the incident, at 10.45am.

Police did not start on the case until 1.15pm, and Ms Brown said: “That gave that guy more than two hours to get away.

“We pay our taxes for a service, and I do not think we got one this time.”

The man is described as white, in his mid-50s, about 5ft 9ins tall, and of medium build with grey receding short hair.

He had one or two days’ stubble and had a big nose.

He spoke with a quiet tone and local accent and was wearing a red fleece jacket, a red polo shirt and faded blue jeans.

Police urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who recognised the description to get in touch. PC Andrew Chapman, who is investigating the incident, said: “Anyone who is approached in this manner should not engage in conversation with the person.

“Walk away avoiding isolated areas, alert another person if possible, and contact the police.”

A woman was sat on another bench nearby and officers would like to speak to her along with anyone who may have been sitting in a vehicle at the traffic lights, who may have seen the incident but not realised anything untoward was happening.

Anyone with information should contact PC Chapman on 0845 6060247.

Asked about the delay in responding to the incident, a police spokeswoman said they did not attend immediately as Sophie had told the 999 call operator that the man had left the scene, and that she was on her way to the open day.

Bill Scriven, head teacher at All Saints’ RC, confirmed he had been informed of the incident.

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