Mum speaks of shock as woman attempts to ‘lure’ child from her in Fareham

Hannah Rowe was walking her daughter Alice to a swimming lesson after shopping in Tesco, in Quay Street, when a woman approached the toddler.

The 21-year-old said: ‘Alice was right next to me, only 30cm away, when this woman came out of nowhere, held out her hand and said ‘come with me’ to Alice.

‘I grabbed Alice’s arm and walked away as fast as I could.

‘This woman followed us for a little bit down the road, and then I lost sight of her.’

The woman is described as being between 45 and 55 years of age, wearing a blue coat at the time.

Hannah said: ‘I didn’t say anything to the woman - my first thought was to get away as quickly as possible.

The incident has left the mum-of-one ‘shaken,’ saying the woman did not come across as friendly.

She said: ‘It felt like she was trying to lure her away.

‘I would never want my daughter to feel scared around people, but you can’t be too careful.’

Hannah added: ‘I’m very aware that these things do happen but you never think it will happen to you.’

The police have said they are treating the incident as ‘suspicious.’

A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘We received a report of a suspicious incident whereby a woman held out her hand towards a young child in Pulheim Parade, Fareham.

‘No physical contact was made with the child.

‘The Fareham Neighbourhood Policing Team are making enquiries, and we continue to encourage people to report suspicious incidents to us.’

The incident comes after a man was reported approaching children outside One Stop close to Ranvilles Infant and Junior School in Oldbury Way, Fareham, leading to the school out a safeguarding alert on social media on Friday.

SEE ALSO: School issues warning after man makes suggestive comments to children

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