Cops hunt man in skeleton balaclava who offered boy, 9, sweets to get in white van as parents warned to be vigilant

POLICE are hunting a man in a skeleton balaclava who offered a child sweets to get in a white van – as parents are warned to be vigilant.

The boy, 9, was playing in a park in Swindon in Wiltshire on Monday when a man in a white van and wearing a balaclava pulled up near him.

He said he'd give the boy some sweets if he got in the back – and the boy started to run back home but was approached again.

The man was white with a stocky build and he had a Scottish accent.

He was wearing a skeleton balaclava with holes cut out for the eyes and nose.

The boy said he could see the man had a ginger/brown beard poking out of the bottom.

His van is described as being long and white with no windows at the back.

Wiltshire Police said in a statement: "We're asking parents to be vigilant following a report of the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old boy in Swindon yesterday (30/08).

"It happened at some time between midday and 1pm when the boy was playing at the park near Alton Close in Penhill.

"A man in a white van pulled up near him and said he'd give the boy some sweets if he got in the back.

"The boy started to run back home but was approached again when he was on Heddington Close.

"The man is described as being white with a stocky build and he had a Scottish accent.

"He was wearing a skeleton balaclava with holes cut out for the eyes and nose. The boy said he could see the man had a ginger/brown beard poking out of the bottom.

"His van is described as being long and white with no windows at the back.

"If you saw a van like this in the area at the time or have any information which could help our investigation, please get in touch.

"You can contact us online or call 101 quoting reference 54210084425.

"You can also report anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

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