Detectives appeal for witnesses after Basingstoke attempted abduction

Detectives in Basingstoke are appealing for witnesses and information after receiving a report of an attempted abduction in Winklebury on Saturday, August 8.

Around 6.20pm, an eight-year-old boy was playing hide and seek with friends near to his home in Kenilworth Road when he was grabbed by the arm by a man he didn’t know.

The boy managed to break free and ran away. He was not harmed in any way.

The man is described as:

Dark skinned

Aged between 20 and 30 years old

Medium build

Around 5ft 10ins

Short dark hair

Wearing a white t-shirt

Detective Constable Louise Trigg, from Basingstoke CID, said: "Although incidents like this are worrying, they are extremely rare and we are working hard to identify the man responsible.

"Despite the many rumours circulating, this appears to be an isolated incident, and we have not received any other reports of this nature.

"We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident and in particular anyone who may have been in the Kenilworth Road around the time that it happened.

"The boy did the right thing by running away and I would like to ask parents to remind their children of the stranger danger message and to report any incidents to us."

Anyone with any information should contact Det Con Trigg on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.