A man followed a young girl in south Bristol after asking her for directions. The girl, in her early teens, was walking in the Molesworth Drive area of Withywood, when a man in a white Seat Leon stopped next to her around 8.55pm on Friday, January 31.
The man, who was unknown to the girl, asked her to get into his car after asking her where he could buy a vape. After the man asked her to get into his car, she refused.
He then got out of his vehicle and followed her a short distance before he went back to his car. The man then drove off towards Queens Road. The girl then bumped into two members of the public.
The man is described as being in his 20s or 30s, slim build and of mixed heritage. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jogging bottoms and had dark hair which was in braids.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 5225029323 .
Inspector Terry Murphy said: “At this stage it is unclear why the man acted in the way he did, but we appreciate parents will likely be concerned by this incident. We wish to reassure people that enquiries are ongoing to fully understand what happened.
“The girl did the right thing in refusing to get in the vehicle and we’re grateful to her family for reporting it to us. We have spoken with her family, have reviewed CCTV and doorbell footage opportunities and spoken to people living in the area as we seek witnesses to come forward.
“We are not aware of any other similar incidents happening in the area recently, but we will not be complacent and additional reassurance patrols are planned.
“We are keen to talk to anyone with information about what happened, including the two people who the girl bumped into on the night. It may be they did not see the man, but we’d appreciate it if they took the time to call us so we know either way.”
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a report of an unknown man asking a child to get into his car to show him where the nearest shop is in south Bristol.
“Additional police patrols are being conducted while we try to understand the circumstances around what happened.
“We understand the child, who is in their early-teens, was walking in the Molesworth Drive area of Withywood when a white Seat Leon car pulled up alongside her at about 8.55pm on Friday 31 January.
“Officers have been told the driver initially asked the girl for directions to shops where he could buy a vape, before then asking her to get in the car to show him how to get there, which she refused.
“It was reported to us that the man then exited the car and followed the girl a short distance before returning to the car and driving off in the direction of Queens Road when she bumped into two members of the public.
“The man is described as in his 20s or 30s, of mixed heritage, slim build, with dark coloured hair in braids and was wearing a black T-shirt and jogging bottoms.”