Jailed: Telford man in abduction attempt said girl in school uniform 'was asking for it'

Girts Harjo was drunk when he twice tried to pull the girl away from her family in Telford.

He then told the girl's mother that the child – who was in school uniform – "asked for it dressed the way she is".

Harjo, 32, admitted a single charge of attempted child abduction when he appeared before Telford magistrates in November last year and yesterday appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court for for sentencing.

Miss Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting, said on June 19 last year at 7pm the schoolgirl was with her mother and other family members outside Drink Stop on The Parade, Donnington.

Miss Orchard said: "The defendant had been in Drink Stop and was drunk at the time, buying more alcohol. He came out and CCTV captures the defendant following the girl.

"As the group walked along they formed lines and the young girl and her cousin were at the back of the group so not visible to the remainder of the group. The mother was in the Drink Stop.

"The girl was wearing school uniform and holding hands with her cousin.

"The defendant came from behind and grabbed held of the girl's hand and tried forcibly to pull her away saying, 'Do you want some food? Come on'. He used a firm grip but she and her cousin pulled away and said 'No, leave us alone' and ran to join the back of the group. The defendant approached her again, and again tried to pull her away."

The court heard that the girl's mother saw what was going on and ran over. Miss Orchard said the defendant told the girl's mother: "She asked for it dressed the way she is. I know she wanted it. She asked for it."

The police were called and the defendant was later arrested.

Yesterday, Harjo, 32, of Ashlea Drive, Donnington, was jailed for 12 months and placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Judge Peter Barrie, said: "What you tried to do was to take a young girl of 11 by the hand when she was walking with her family and get her to come away with you. Although you may have talked to her about getting food it is clear in your comments to the mother in your drunken state you had something sexual in mind.

"It would have been a terrifying and distressing episode for the young girl and frightening for the mother. You did do it on the spur of the moment and it was not planned."

Mr Adrian Roberts, mitigating, said: "This was a spontaneous decision on his behalf, not something he planned or plotted.

"He was watching football and had consumed a large amount of alcohol. He had gone to the shops to buy more and not abduct a child. He thinks he probably wanted to buy her food because he was in a good mood and happy.

"He is embarrassed and ashamed. Those are the words he asked me to use – not prompted."