Parents are being urged to be on their guard after reports of a ‘suspicious approach’ being made to a child in Co Armagh.
The mother of a young boy claimed her son was followed by a man in Lurgan.
And a local SDLP representative described it as a “worrying turn of events”.
Thomas Larkham – speaking after the incident on Tuesday – said: “I would urge all parents to have a serious talk to their children about this.
“Thankfully this young lad knew what was happening and was able to get to safety.
“I send him and his family my best wishes and I hope he is OK following this traumatic experience.”
The boy’s mum had taken to social media to warn others.
She said her son was walking home from school at around 4pm, making his way along Meadowbrook, when he noticed a man standing beside a fence.
“When the child passed him he had followed him and after a short period of time the child realised he was being followed,” she explained. “He crossed to the other side of the road and run up to Gilpins Mews and he rang a door bell.
“This stage the guy was at the entrance of Gilpins Court. The child knew there wasn’t anyone at home and the guy had crossed over to our side, when my son went to go to neighbour’s house, as there was a car in driveway.”
She said the man made off when another neighbour came out of their house.
The woman said the man had been wearing dark coloured jeans, a bottle green ‘puffy’ jacket. He was about five feet 10 inches tall, with a beard. He was wearing a black cap and had a cigarette behind his ear.
SDLP rep Mr Larkham has praised the woman for speaking out to warn others and added: “I will be following up with PSNI on this.”
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