UPDATED: Attempted child abduction at Primark in Poole: what really happened (From Bournemouth Echo)
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UPDATED: Attempted child abduction at Primark in Poole: what really happened
2:40pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Diana Henderson
A mum reported a "suspicious incident" after a man approached her daughter in Poole's Primark yesterday, it has been revealed.
The concerned mum says her child was approached by a man while she was shopping at Primark in the Dolphin Centre on Wednesday afternoon around 3pm.
The mother reported the matter to security staff at the store and the police were called by Primark, she said.
When asked by the Echo, Dorset Police, the Dolphin Centre and Primark all denied that the incident had taken place.
But the Echo tracked down the mum, from Canford Heath, who was shopping for shoes for her three-year-old when the incident happened.
She said: “She was sitting on the bench trying on shoes.
“I carried on looking for another pair of shoes for her. I looked up, there was a male in front of me. He approached her. I went up behind him, he went 'hello' to her.”
She said the man, who was in his 30s and wearing a flat cap looked right and left and behind, then went off when he saw her.
“It was highly suspicious,” she said. However the man did not touch or attempt to grab her daughter, she said.
“It really shook me up,” she said. “I just feel it could have been worse. I have three children and this has never happened to me before.”
The incident has spread around Facebook after a friend of the mum posted an update warning other parents to be careful.
A spokesman for Primark said: “Primark takes customer safety very seriously and as such immediately reported the mother’s concerns to the police. On this occasion, having reviewed the CCTV the police did not take any further action.”
The Echo has asked police for an updated response and will post it as soon as we get it.
Comments(70)
angelface4631
says...
12:01pm Thu 14 Mar 13
spell101
says...
12:20pm Thu 14 Mar 13
A: Because it's the only place where they can talk to a wall and not be considered an loser!
scrumpyjack
says...
12:36pm Thu 14 Mar 13
angelface4631 wrote:Why don't you tell us the 'real' story?
but then printing the REAL story about what really happened wouldnt make people read it enough would it!
spooki
says...
12:41pm Thu 14 Mar 13
angelface4631
says...
12:50pm Thu 14 Mar 13
scrumpyjack wrote:I cant as the police are dealing with it
angelface4631 wrote:Why don't you tell us the 'real' story?
but then printing the REAL story about what really happened wouldnt make people read it enough would it!
angelface4631
says...
12:51pm Thu 14 Mar 13
spell101 wrote:this is serious its not rumour on fb
Q: Why is Facebook a great site for loners?
A: Because it's the only place where they can talk to a wall and not be considered an loser!
CourtOffside
says...
1:11pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Sam Shepherd
says...
1:20pm Thu 14 Mar 13
angelface4631 wrote:Angelface, the police have told us categorically that they are not dealing with it, so if you know differently we need you to help us by giving us some more info.
scrumpyjack wrote:I cant as the police are dealing with it
angelface4631 wrote:Why don't you tell us the 'real' story?
but then printing the REAL story about what really happened wouldnt make people read it enough would it!
I emailed you earlier, so you can reply in confidence with anything that might help.
Thanks
mrpickles69
says...
1:21pm Thu 14 Mar 13
hamworthygirl
says...
2:07pm Thu 14 Mar 13
static kill
says...
2:47pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Mike_French
says...
2:58pm Thu 14 Mar 13
IF (I say if being without children through choice) a stranger approached my son/daughter when shoe shopping in the way that has been reported then he/she would not have got out of the shop with nobody noticing, besides they do have CCTV or am I wrong??
The Renegade Master
says...
2:59pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Holland82
says...
3:02pm Thu 14 Mar 13
static kill wrote:Mountain out of a mole hill?
UPDATED: Man says hello to girl.
Time_Traveller
says...
3:03pm Thu 14 Mar 13
He didn't touch her or attempt to take her away as it said on facebook yesterday. This is just a paranoid mother making something out of nothing in my opinion.
People talk to my grandkids quite often in shops when standing at the tills etc and say hello and my kids will say hello back. It's just being friendly - and my grandkids know not to go off with anyone else.
Do we really want our kids growing up so paranoid that they can't even look at strangers without thinking every one is a pervert?
Jesus, what a world we live in!
Sam Shepherd
says...
3:07pm Thu 14 Mar 13
The Renegade Master wrote:We appreciate the point, but we've updated the story in light of the confusion about what actually happened - we feel it's important to clarify because so many people have seen both the original Facebook post and our story saying it wasn't true.
Since when has saying hello to a three year old been a crime or deserving of a headline in the local press? No attempt was made to snatch or touch the child so all we have here is the over reaction of a mother to someone doing absolutely nothing wrong. This story is ridiculous scare mongering drivel in my opinion that should be removed from the site immediately in light of the fact that the Police taking no action whatsoever.
We don't yet know if the police are taking any action - we do know that they have spoken to the mum today and will update when we know more.
bourne free
says...
3:19pm Thu 14 Mar 13
What a cr-p story, which is why the police arn't interested !
johnny j
says...
3:24pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Its a shame we dont talk anymore!
Enough said really.
Dilligaf08
says...
3:26pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Sam Shepherd wrote:There are far too many rumours flying around Facebook so The Echo are right in reporting what really happened.
The Renegade Master wrote:We appreciate the point, but we've updated the story in light of the confusion about what actually happened - we feel it's important to clarify because so many people have seen both the original Facebook post and our story saying it wasn't true.
Since when has saying hello to a three year old been a crime or deserving of a headline in the local press? No attempt was made to snatch or touch the child so all we have here is the over reaction of a mother to someone doing absolutely nothing wrong. This story is ridiculous scare mongering drivel in my opinion that should be removed from the site immediately in light of the fact that the Police taking no action whatsoever.
We don't yet know if the police are taking any action - we do know that they have spoken to the mum today and will update when we know more.
CourtOffside
says...
3:50pm Thu 14 Mar 13
jemima36
says...
3:51pm Thu 14 Mar 13
l'anglais
says...
3:53pm Thu 14 Mar 13
CourtOffside wrote:What do you think fills up your tabloids every day?
If the Echo is going to go around debunking every piece of bullspit that is posted on Facebook, they're going to make themselves very very busy.
CourtOffside
says...
3:58pm Thu 14 Mar 13
dutyfree2833
says...
4:32pm Thu 14 Mar 13
What exactly was posted? Someone said hello to my friends toddler then looked around? Was the author trying to cause some sort of situation for attention or to cause a headline? It seems that the shop, the centre security and police are struggling to find an incident so really how can a warning genuinely be posted on Facebook? If genuinely concerned for her childs safety, I wonder why the mother didn't say something to the man?
You cannot blame the Echo for reporting such events and eventually the truth will out. However it Is a sad Inditement of our super sensitive, often hysterical, society when someone cannot say hello to a child without wondering whether their description may end up on the front page of the Echo; Facebook or worse!
simcal
says...
4:42pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Lucy28
says...
5:20pm Thu 14 Mar 13
mysticalshoelace
says...
5:21pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Azphreal
says...
5:24pm Thu 14 Mar 13
AmsterdamMan
says...
5:33pm Thu 14 Mar 13
BackOfTheNet
says...
5:55pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Very sad day.
spooki
says...
6:26pm Thu 14 Mar 13
The Warlock
says...
6:42pm Thu 14 Mar 13
spooki wrote:You said poo. lol
Hello? Is there anyone living in reality out there? EVERY day there are stories about pervs and weirdos yet when one MAY have been stopped and deterred the poor woman gets ridiculed? Surely these days a lot of people would err on the side of caution? I suppose if it was your 3 year old being approached you'd merrily let them wonder off with the man so she could see his puppies? I'd like to think my child (2yrs) wouldn't be unattended for a second buts lets face it, shopping with a small child gets fraught and sometimes we do look away for a fraction of a second. Who out there honestly has NEVER looked away from their child in a shop? Yes perhaps she may have over reacted but who knows what could have happened? We would like to think the best of people but I'm sorry, these days it's easier to think the worst first. I dont know if I would have gone to security but who knows. Think about what YOU would have done in the mums position. I frankly couldn't care less what any of you poo-pooers think, my child comes first.
rozmister
says...
7:03pm Thu 14 Mar 13
spooki wrote:There's always been perverts and weirdos - there were when you and I were young and there always will be people were just less aware. Saying these days is pointless its nothing to do with these days its to do with awareness and new channels (Facebook, etc). Adults i didnt know spoke to me out when I was young but I've made it to adulthood without anything untoward happening.
Hello? Is there anyone living in reality out there? EVERY day there are stories about pervs and weirdos yet when one MAY have been stopped and deterred the poor woman gets ridiculed? Surely these days a lot of people would err on the side of caution? I suppose if it was your 3 year old being approached you'd merrily let them wonder off with the man so she could see his puppies? I'd like to think my child (2yrs) wouldn't be unattended for a second buts lets face it, shopping with a small child gets fraught and sometimes we do look away for a fraction of a second. Who out there honestly has NEVER looked away from their child in a shop? Yes perhaps she may have over reacted but who knows what could have happened? We would like to think the best of people but I'm sorry, these days it's easier to think the worst first. I dont know if I would have gone to security but who knows. Think about what YOU would have done in the mums position. I frankly couldn't care less what any of you poo-pooers think, my child comes first.
The likelihood of a stranger snatching your child is slim you'd do better to worry about the people you knowingly allow into your children's life.
If this was a serious attempt to abduct a child the police wouldn't mess about. It's more than likely this was a miscommunication or crossed wires.
Lucy28
says...
7:42pm Thu 14 Mar 13
spooki wrote:I don't think that it's necessarily the actions of the mum that people have the major problem. If she felt her child was in danger then yes she had every right to tell the store and contact the police. Although in my opinion she totally over reacted, and whilst yes there are paedophiles in society not every man and certainly the vast majority of men would not have a sinister motive behind approaching a lone child in a shop on the average of probability he was merely concerned for her welfare. But like I said if she felt telling the police and the store was what she needed to do then far enough
Hello? Is there anyone living in reality out there? EVERY day there are stories about pervs and weirdos yet when one MAY have been stopped and deterred the poor woman gets ridiculed? Surely these days a lot of people would err on the side of caution? I suppose if it was your 3 year old being approached you'd merrily let them wonder off with the man so she could see his puppies? I'd like to think my child (2yrs) wouldn't be unattended for a second buts lets face it, shopping with a small child gets fraught and sometimes we do look away for a fraction of a second. Who out there honestly has NEVER looked away from their child in a shop? Yes perhaps she may have over reacted but who knows what could have happened? We would like to think the best of people but I'm sorry, these days it's easier to think the worst first. I dont know if I would have gone to security but who knows. Think about what YOU would have done in the mums position. I frankly couldn't care less what any of you poo-pooers think, my child comes first.
What shouldn't have happened though was the witch hunt that ensued on Facebook and other media sites that branded this man a pervert, that posted that this was a case of attempted abduction, that warned parents to be vigilant of 30 something males and installed fear in to the few. That shouldn't have happened because nothing actually physically or otherwise happened to this child and when the echo and the police and the store said that nothing happened that was branded as some sort of cover up. Implying that neither the police nor the store had any interest in safeguarding a child if it meant the profits of primark were in jeopardy. In which case the echo had a duty as part of the media to say that the story on Facebook of a child nearly being abducted was untrue because it was Even the mother said that the threat to her child wasn't actual his actions were perserved by her to be a threat and she acted upon that. It's a sad reflection on society to think that had the person been female.
BournemouthMum
says...
7:58pm Thu 14 Mar 13
When I was on holiday in Greece a few years ago when my son was around 12, I was looking at sunglasses when a middle aged man was staring at my son and looking around furtively, he inched his way forward towards him. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly.
I think there's more to this story and I doubt the mother is embellishing what happened - what would be the point? I hope the occurrence is clarified by the police.
awsokend
says...
10:39pm Thu 14 Mar 13
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Lawyer007
says...
11:07pm Thu 14 Mar 13
See below for the exact wording of the law from the child abduction Act 1984..
Offence of abduction of child by other persons.
(1) commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, he takes or detains a child under the age of sixteen—
(a)so as to remove him from the lawful control of any person having lawful control of the child; or
(b)so as to keep him out of the lawful control of any person entitled to lawful control of the child.
[F2(2)The persons are—
(a)where the father and mother of the child in question were married to each other at the time of his birth, the child’s father and mother;
(b)where the father and mother of the child in question were not married to each other at the time of his birth, the child’s mother; and
(c)any other person mentioned in section 1(2)(c) to (e) above.
(3)In proceedings against any person for an offence under this section, it shall be a defence for that person to prove—
(a)where the father and mother of the child in question were not married to each other at the time of his birth—
(i)that he is the child’s father; or
(ii)that, at the time of the alleged offence, he believed, on reasonable grounds, that he was the child’s father; or
(b)that, at the time of the alleged offence, he believed that the child had attained the age of sixteen.
portia6
says...
1:07am Fri 15 Mar 13
4 should be safely in a pushchair and
if walking have safety reins. I know it
can be a nightmare shopping with a
young child, but better to be safe than
sorry!
Blob01
says...
1:20am Fri 15 Mar 13
wilkiemini
says...
7:22am Fri 15 Mar 13
Why why why do we always think the worst of people ESP men?
Paranoid people.....
BournemouthMum
says...
8:27am Fri 15 Mar 13
awsokend wrote:Correct. I am a bit of an expert on pervs, having been the victim of a couple of them when in my teens. I know how these people operate and can spot them a mile off. Around 10 years ago, I warned one of my friends about a neighbour of hers and warned her not to have anything to do with him and especially don't let her children near him. She thought I was bonkers because he was a respectable looking guy with a good job, nice home etc. anyway long story short he turned out to be a pervert and was convicted of having extensive child **** on his computer (as was reported in the Echo). I just knew.
. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Maybe the mother in this article has the same sixth sense? I believe her.
BournemouthMum
says...
8:29am Fri 15 Mar 13
ashleycross
says...
8:43am Fri 15 Mar 13
ashleycross
says...
8:48am Fri 15 Mar 13
wilkiemini wrote:If this was the case he should have reported it to a member of staff and would also not have behaved suspiciously by looking all around him to see if anyone was watching him.
Has anyone considered the fact that he may have thought the child was left alone and was checking that she was okay, and looking for her mother?
Why why why do we always think the worst of people ESP men?
Paranoid people.....
Dorset Logic
says...
8:55am Fri 15 Mar 13
'Will someone please think of the children'
SophieRJ
says...
9:37am Fri 15 Mar 13
portia6 wrote:This is why so many kids are obese! A child of 3 or 4, who is perfectly capable of walking, should be walking!!
I firmly believe that a child under 3 or
4 should be safely in a pushchair and
if walking have safety reins. I know it
can be a nightmare shopping with a
young child, but better to be safe than
sorry!
Dibbles2
says...
9:50am Fri 15 Mar 13
BournemouthMum wrote:So how come it was all over fcebook 24 hrs prior to the alleged incident????????????
awsokend wrote:Correct. I am a bit of an expert on pervs, having been the victim of a couple of them when in my teens. I know how these people operate and can spot them a mile off. Around 10 years ago, I warned one of my friends about a neighbour of hers and warned her not to have anything to do with him and especially don't let her children near him. She thought I was bonkers because he was a respectable looking guy with a good job, nice home etc. anyway long story short he turned out to be a pervert and was convicted of having extensive child **** on his computer (as was reported in the Echo). I just knew.
. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Maybe the mother in this article has the same sixth sense? I believe her.
????????????????????
??? Wasting police time????????????????
??????????
Dibbles2
says...
9:57am Fri 15 Mar 13
ashleycross wrote:Have you seen the size of Primark? Find a member of staff?
wilkiemini wrote:If this was the case he should have reported it to a member of staff and would also not have behaved suspiciously by looking all around him to see if anyone was watching him.
Has anyone considered the fact that he may have thought the child was left alone and was checking that she was okay, and looking for her mother?
Why why why do we always think the worst of people ESP men?
Paranoid people.....
wilkiemini
says...
10:04am Fri 15 Mar 13
rozmister
says...
10:14am Fri 15 Mar 13
BournemouthMum wrote:You may be better than most at spotting sex offenders but I'm a bit sceptical you can spot every one from a mile off.
awsokend wrote:Correct. I am a bit of an expert on pervs, having been the victim of a couple of them when in my teens. I know how these people operate and can spot them a mile off. Around 10 years ago, I warned one of my friends about a neighbour of hers and warned her not to have anything to do with him and especially don't let her children near him. She thought I was bonkers because he was a respectable looking guy with a good job, nice home etc. anyway long story short he turned out to be a pervert and was convicted of having extensive child **** on his computer (as was reported in the Echo). I just knew.
. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Maybe the mother in this article has the same sixth sense? I believe her.
There isn't one conventional way that all sex offenders behave. There are trends but believing that you can identify ever single one on sight could lead to paedophiles getting away with their behaviour because they don't fit a conventional idea of paedophile type behaviour. Or a child may not be believed when they make an abuse claim because the person doesn't fit the stereotype. I'm not denying you may be able to identify them better than most but we all need to be really careful not to stereotype paedophiles and then miss what's in front of our face. Just look at Jimmy Saville - couldn't be a paedophile in most people's eyes because he was a celebrity and he's one of the most prolific offenders of our time.
As for believing the mum. I believe the mum FELT worried about the man's behaviour I don't however believe or disbelieve her accusation that the man planned to abduct her child. Statistically the chances that he was trying to abduct her child are slim but without being there and seeing what happened I couldn't know. I wouldn't want to make or support such a serious accusation unless I was SURE 110% that person had behaved inappropriately and this report doesn't give me the details to make that judgement.
dutyfree2833
says...
11:03am Fri 15 Mar 13
Look, theres no end of reasons why someone may say hello to a kid in a shop on its own. Who knows the motive but the chances of it being sinister are extremely small.
What actually happened here? Nothing!
So get on with your lives and stop making something out of nothing. Ridiculous paranoid society we now live in.
Wesoblind
says...
11:22am Fri 15 Mar 13
Wesoblind
says...
11:23am Fri 15 Mar 13
portia6 wrote:Thats just lazy they are not a dog, i hold my daughters hand the whole time, simples!
I firmly believe that a child under 3 or 4 should be safely in a pushchair and if walking have safety reins. I know it can be a nightmare shopping with a young child, but better to be safe than sorry!
Wesoblind
says...
11:25am Fri 15 Mar 13
ashleycross wrote:Yes but its not some 50 year old man abducting a 3 year old its a 25 year old chav with a 15 year old girlfriend!
When I moved to Poole 20+ years ago social services where I was warned me that it was a town notorious for at least ten known paedophile rings operating. I was also warned about a certain celebrity now in the news both in the 70's via someone in TV and then social services in another part of the country in the 80's. It seems to be only now that their victims who have survived these people are being listened to. In the meantime, better safe than sorry.
afcb_canfordheath
says...
11:28am Fri 15 Mar 13
awsokend
says...
12:17pm Fri 15 Mar 13
BournemouthMum wrote:If any one looks at you or your kids when you are out
awsokend wrote:Correct. I am a bit of an expert on pervs, having been the victim of a couple of them when in my teens. I know how these people operate and can spot them a mile off. Around 10 years ago, I warned one of my friends about a neighbour of hers and warned her not to have anything to do with him and especially don't let her children near him. She thought I was bonkers because he was a respectable looking guy with a good job, nice home etc. anyway long story short he turned out to be a pervert and was convicted of having extensive child **** on his computer (as was reported in the Echo). I just knew.
. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Maybe the mother in this article has the same sixth sense? I believe her.
take great care
Because they might ****off with them
according to the posters on this thread.
For Petes sake get a life and take your red noses off.
rozmister
says...
12:53pm Fri 15 Mar 13
tricky1007 wrote:I never claimed to be any good at identifying paedophiles. BournemouthMum did.
rozmister wrote:how come you never went to the police about Jimmy Saville? Surely if your that good at spotting them, he should have been easy!!!
BournemouthMum wrote:You may be better than most at spotting sex offenders but I'm a bit sceptical you can spot every one from a mile off.
awsokend wrote:Correct. I am a bit of an expert on pervs, having been the victim of a couple of them when in my teens. I know how these people operate and can spot them a mile off. Around 10 years ago, I warned one of my friends about a neighbour of hers and warned her not to have anything to do with him and especially don't let her children near him. She thought I was bonkers because he was a respectable looking guy with a good job, nice home etc. anyway long story short he turned out to be a pervert and was convicted of having extensive child **** on his computer (as was reported in the Echo). I just knew.
. I saw what he was doing from behind the carousel (he didn't see me) and I said to him "don't even think about it" because I knew what he was up to, mothers just do. He walked away sheepishly
What are you then mrs
some kind of expert on perverts
sounds like it you know ?
Maybe the mother in this article has the same sixth sense? I believe her.
There isn't one conventional way that all sex offenders behave. There are trends but believing that you can identify ever single one on sight could lead to paedophiles getting away with their behaviour because they don't fit a conventional idea of paedophile type behaviour. Or a child may not be believed when they make an abuse claim because the person doesn't fit the stereotype. I'm not denying you may be able to identify them better than most but we all need to be really careful not to stereotype paedophiles and then miss what's in front of our face. Just look at Jimmy Saville - couldn't be a paedophile in most people's eyes because he was a celebrity and he's one of the most prolific offenders of our time.
As for believing the mum. I believe the mum FELT worried about the man's behaviour I don't however believe or disbelieve her accusation that the man planned to abduct her child. Statistically the chances that he was trying to abduct her child are slim but without being there and seeing what happened I couldn't know. I wouldn't want to make or support such a serious accusation unless I was SURE 110% that person had behaved inappropriately and this report doesn't give me the details to make that judgement.
I have a good knowledge of warning signs from being related to the Chief Executive of a charity for victims of abuse but I'd never say I could be sure to identify a paedophile because I wouldn't be confident I could (unless there was clear evidence e.g they'd done something inappropriate in front of me or a child made an accusation). Accusing people of being paedophiles is very serious so as I couldn't be sure without strong evidence I wouldn't.
grazzer
says...
1:24pm Fri 15 Mar 13
static kill
says...
1:28pm Fri 15 Mar 13
spooki
says...
2:42pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Yes she over reacted but she probably thought she had good reason to. Shame for anyone who is innocently chatting to a child, yet again, the weirdos have ruined it for every 'normal' person.
pabotto
says...
3:17pm Fri 15 Mar 13
strippervicar
says...
4:01pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Shameful reporting.
portia6
says...
4:59pm Fri 15 Mar 13
SophieRJ wrote:Just saying its safer when in a crowded
portia6 wrote:This is why so many kids are obese! A child of 3 or 4, who is perfectly capable of walking, should be walking!!
I firmly believe that a child under 3 or
4 should be safely in a pushchair and
if walking have safety reins. I know it
can be a nightmare shopping with a
young child, but better to be safe than
sorry!
store, I had a hyper-active one who
would just get lost! Kids hate shopping
especially when they are bored!
paul.p
says...
2:02am Sat 16 Mar 13
It's things like this story that really does make me think that the human race is a pointless entity.
portia6
says...
4:16pm Sat 16 Mar 13
once children wonder how we all
survived, please remember Madeline
Mcann.
ShuttleX
says...
5:29pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Lucy28 wrote:Well said Lucy. Your post just about sums it up. If the event took place, and it's not just a bit of attention seeking by this woman, just what has this man done? No wonder children are more at risk now. Adults, especiailly men, will just walk on by when they see a child alone, even if it's in distress. They feel they don't need the hassle. May'be this woman will keep her children with her next time.
If I was walking through a shop and saw a 3 year old child sat on a chair without the mum next to her I would probably look left and right and behind me, to look for the adult that was supposed to be with her, and if this child looked at me I would probably smile and god forbin I may even say hello and if the mum came into view with the next pair of shoes to try on and I would carry on my day - I would look around to make sure the mum was there and that the child hadnt wandered off. You know what though had I been in primart and be the one to say hellos to the child most likely on seeing the mum we would have exchanged knowing looks and nothing more would have come of it because I'm a women. It's a sad state of affairs that a man cannot speak to a child without someone believing there is something sinister behind it
I agree the Echo should have told the story, and it seems they are actually trying to get to the bottom of it, but I have to ask, is there really any story to get to the bottom of?
ashleycross
says...
12:21am Mon 18 Mar 13
Dibbles2 wrote:Fair point-I don't actually shop there so didn't realise. However, a lack of staff would also make it a good place for someone to go for a child. Also, the mother did find a member of staff to report to.
ashleycross wrote:Have you seen the size of Primark? Find a member of staff?
wilkiemini wrote:If this was the case he should have reported it to a member of staff and would also not have behaved suspiciously by looking all around him to see if anyone was watching him.
Has anyone considered the fact that he may have thought the child was left alone and was checking that she was okay, and looking for her mother?
Why why why do we always think the worst of people ESP men?
Paranoid people.....
Chris the plumber
says...
8:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
Chris the plumber
says...
8:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
angelface4631 says...
12:00pm Thu 14 Mar 13