York police have issued an E-Fit of a man they believe may have tried to abduct a child while she was playing outside her home.

Wanted: The police E-fit of the wanted man

Today the mother of the seven-year-old girl, who was grabbed as she played near her home in Kitchener Street home, appealed to Evening Press readers to help the police with their investigation

The mum, who want to stay anonymous to spare her daughter any further ordeal, said although the attack was very frightening it could have been a lot worse.

"She was having a lot of nightmares at first," she said.

"But she is starting to get over it now but I would ask anyone who thinks they might recognise this man to come forward in the hope of sparing another child from such a terrifying attack."

The girl had been playing on a cycle track at the rear of her home on May 1 while her father kept an eye on her and her young friends from the garden.

He saw a tall man carrying a rolled-up towel walking towards the children and when he turned back to look again her realised his daughter had disappeared.

He sped over to the children and saw the man dragging his daughter away.

Seeing the father in pursuit the alleged abductor pushed the girl into a patch of nettles and made off.

The father suspected his daughter's attacker could have been planning to go for a swim at the Yearsley baths.

When he contacted staff they said a man fitting the description of the attacker had been to the pool that afternoon and an attendant was able to help the police to build up an E-Fit of the attacker.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York police, said: "It is fortunate the girl's father noticed she had gone missing so soon or the outcome of events could have been considerably more serious.

"As it was the child was upset by what happened and suffered nettle stings but is now recovering from her ordeal.

"We are treating this case as a possible attempted abduction and the man we are seeking is in his early 30s and about 6ft tall.

"He has a slim build and sandy-coloured cropped hair.

"He was wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt and blue shorts.

"His breath smelled strongly of alcohol and he was scruffy."

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact DC Trevor Dove on (01904) 631321

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