Police hunt for driver who tried to snatch boy, 12, after asking him for directions on seafront
- Police say the incident that left the boy ‘distressed’ happen in Sandgate, Kent
- Detectives say the suspect attempted to lead the boy away by his arm
- The man let the boy go and he ran off in the incident at lunchtime on June 6
A motorist who tried to snatch a 12-year-old boy from a seafront in broad daylight is being hunted.
Police say the worrying incident that left the boy ‘distressed’ happened in Sandgate, near Folkestone, Kent.
They are appealing for witnesses after the boy was approached by a man on The Esplanade who asked him for directions between 1.45pm and 2pm on June 6.
A motorist who tried to snatch a 12-year-old boy from a seafront in broad daylight is being hunted (file photo)
Detectives say the suspect attempted to lead the boy away by his arm before letting go. The boy then ran off.
The man is described as East European, about 5ft 10ins, with brown eyes.
He was wearing a black bandana covering his nose and mouth, a black hooded top, dark grey tracksuit bottoms and black leather gloves.
He left the scene in a car described as a silver Volkswagen SUV.
Detective constable Maria Cutter, of Kent Police, said: ‘Although the boy got home safely, he was understandably distressed.
‘We are treating this as an isolated incident and would urge anyone who may have seen anything or who may have information to come forward.’
Police say the worrying incident that left the boy ‘distressed’ happened in Sandgate, near Folkestone, Kent (file photo)