Pupils praised for foiling abduction (From Echo)

Pupils praised for foiling abduction

3:00pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Castle Point By Gina Marden

A HEADTEACHER praised two quick-thinking girls after a man tried to lure them into his car.

The sixth formers, aged 17 and 19, were walking near their school, King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, when the incident happened.

A man pulled up alongside the teenagers and made a suggestive comment before trying to convince them to get into his car.

But the brave girls ignored the him and calmly walked into school, where they promptly told teachers what had happened.

Staff then reported the incident to police, through their safeguarding officer .

Headteacher Margaret Wilson praised the girls’ for staying calm and informing staff. She said the girls had done exactly what the school advises youngsters to do when approached by strangers, which is to not engage in conversation and to walk away and raise the alarm.

Mrs Wilson said: “The girls were out during school hours, which sixth-formers are allowed to do, when this man made lewd comments and asked them to get into his car.

“We do a lot of work with our students about personal safety, so they know what to do in these circumstances. The girls did exactly what we would have expected them to, they walked away, came into school and told staff. We always remind all our students when they are outside school to walk to bus stops, to school or home, in pairs.

“We are very pleased the girls acted so calmly and did the right thing by informing staff.”

The incident happened on Thursday morning. Police were unable to supply a description of the man at this stage of the investigation. However, they asked anyone with information to call police at Canvey on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.