CCTV films attempted abduction -Family tells of girl's 'lucky escape'

See more CCTV,Security,Surveillance related video at security video at magnify.net


Family tells of girl's 'lucky escape'
CCTV operators managed to record the entire incident.

The family of a 16-year-old girl who was the victim of an attempted abduction caught on CCTV footage have said she had a "lucky escape".

The incident took place on York Road, Adwick, in Doncaster, at 0320 BST on Friday 27 June.

The CCTV footage shows a man walking on a footpath next to the teenager before picking her up and dragging her into some bushes.

After a struggle the girl managed to escape from the man.

CCTV camera operators captured the attack after being alerted by an off-duty police officer who was concerned after seeing the girl walking on her own.

In a family statement read by a police officer at a news conference, her family said: "We'd like to help police to stress the dangers of walking out alone at night.

"We recognise that she did have a very lucky escape from what might have otherwise been tragic circumstances."

The statement went on: "We are overawed by the scale of the public response and would like to express our sincere gratitude for the assistance given by the public in this matter."

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fewkes said the force had received 130 calls from the public about the incident over the last two days, in which 70 specific men had been named.

He told the news conference: "One of the most important things is to make a further appeal for information from members of the public, particularly those in the Doncaster area.

"From inquiries we have made over the last two days we firmly believe this man had been in Doncaster town area specifically on the night of Thursday 26 June and the early hours of Friday 27 June."

He stressed that this incident was not an "everyday" occurrence but warned women to take precautions until the man is caught.

He said: "There is absolutely no doubt that this individual has followed this girl for some distance.

"There is no doubt in my mind that his intention has been to abduct her."

Police have released an e-fit of the man they are hunting.

He is described as 5 ft 10 in tall, aged in his 50s, with a big build and light coloured hair.

'CCTV abductor' facing jail term

Graw attempted to drag the teenager into bushes
A man was who was caught on CCTV trying to abduct a 16-year-old girl is facing a jail sentence after pleading guilty.

Dieter Graw, 46, appeared in Hull Crown Court charged with unlawfully taking the teenager against her will.

CCTV operators spotted Graw picking up the girl and dragging her into bushes in Adwick, Doncaster, on 27 June 2003.

Graw, of Booty Cottage, Great Heck, North Yorkshire, was told by the judge to expect prison. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 18 June.

The married railway worker was charged in January 2004 after the footage of the incident was shown on national television soon after the event.

South Yorkshire Police received a huge response to the video which showed him grabbing the girl as she walked along York Road in the early hours of the morning.

CCTV operators followed him as he tried to chat to the girl before bundling her into bushes.

The video showed the pair struggling before the girl broke free.

Adjourning the case for sentencing, Judge Jackie Davies said: "The court needs to assess the element of risk that there is, bearing in mind the unusual nature of this matter.

"You will receive a custodial sentence, I warn you of that now."