A Margate mum is asking for help to identify a stranger who randomly grabbed her five-year-old son by the head as he was coming out of school.
The mum-of-three, who asked not to be named, said she was picking up her boys from St Gregory’s primary on Wednesday afternoon (July 5) when a man ‘blocked’ her and then grabbed her youngest son around the head.
She said: “We had come out of the school and were right by the gate. My son had stopped at the bin. A man looked weird and was just looking at my son. My other son was in front of me. As the man walked past me, he stuck his arms out, did this funny walk towards (my son) and then put his hands on (my son’s) head and pushed his head right back. I was shouting at him and he didn’t even acknowledge me at all.
“It was really bizarre.”
The man – who the mum describes as possibly around 50, well kept, wearing either a beige or light grey waist length jacket, slim build and carrying a bottle of water- then calmly walked off along Manston Road towards Margate crematorium.
She added: “The police are involved and I’m looking to see if anyone has any CCTV, ring doorbell or dashcam footage around that time to try and help identify the man responsible.
“Luckily (my son) doesn’t really understand what’s happened. I’ve made as many parents aware as I can as it’s a safeguarding issue.”
Kent Police attended but were unable to find the man.
A Kent Police spokesman said: ”Kent Police was called at 3.20pm on Wednesday 5 July, to Nash Road, Margate, where a man was alleged to have assaulted a child. It is reported the boy’s head was pushed back but he did not suffer any injuries.
“Officers attended and carried out a search of the local area but were unable to locate a suspect.
“Anyone with information should contact Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/119579/23.”
