01/10/2015

Man Jailed For Attempted Abduction Of 9-Year-Old Girl

A 38-year-old man has been jailed for the attempted abduction of a nine year old girl in Bearwood, West Midlands.

Edward Burns, of Smethwick, was jailed for four and a half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing of attempting to abduct the nine-year-old girl.

The court heard that Burns, spotted the girl on the afternoon of Sunday, 29 March this year as she walked along Belmot Road in Bearwood.

He went up to the child, pushed her to the floor and lay on top of her, before dragging the terrified child across the road by her coat hood into an alleyway.

Fortunately a woman passing heard the child’s screams and shouted at Burns to let her go. He then ran off into a flat where he lived nearby.

Detective Constable Luke Stephens said: "This was a terrifying incident for the child, who was extremely upset by the attack. We believe his intentions were sexual in nature. Luckily a woman saw what happened and heard the child's screams and he let her go. 

"The child was very brave and gave us a detailed description of the man who attacked her, which led to the quick arrest of Burns. I would also like to thank the public spirited actions of the woman who intervened and helped the child."

(MH/CD)

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