Police appeal after 10-year-old schoolboy grabbed by man in Sydenham (From News Shopper)

Police appeal after 10-year-old schoolboy grabbed by man in Sydenham

3:23pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Sarah Trotter

A 10-YEAR-old schoolboy managed to escape a man who snuck up behind him and pulled him by the shoulders in Sydenham yesterday.

Police are appealing for information after the young victim was tugged backwards by the man on his way to school along Sydenham Park Road around 8.40am.

It follows the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old schoolgirl along Thorpewood Avenue, Sydenham, last month but police say the two incidents are not linked.

The suspect is described as a black man around six foot tall who had a blue van with a window at the back and a door which opens upwards.

He was wearing a black coat with a Union Jack flag on the right-hand side and a black and white top with a white skull pictured. He also had a gold hexagon shaped ring on the little finger of his left hand.

Detective Inspector Lesley Hamilton, of Lewisham CID, said: "We would like to stress that this incident is not being linked to any other previously reported to us.

"Equally whilst we understand that parents are concerned we do not wish to cause alarm and continue to ask them and their children to remain vigilant.

"We also encourage members of the public to contact us with any information regarding this incident."

Lewisham Safer Neighbourhoods Teams in Lewisham say they are are working closely with local schools and have upped patrols where necessary.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lewisham CID directly on 0208 284 8324 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.