A woman who police were trying to trace who may have witnessed the attempted abduction of an eight-year-old girl in Brighton city centre has come forward.
Officers released a CCTV photo of the woman who was dressed in black and walking along Tidy Street moments before the incident on Saturday (5 May) at about 8.25am with an appeal for her to contact police.
The girl was walking along Gloucester Road having been to post a letter at a letter box in nearby North Road. Just after she turned the corner into Tidy Street, a man ran up and grabbed hold of her, pushing her to the ground but fortunately this was seen by two passers-by who shouted at him and he ran off in the direction of Trafalgar Street. The girl was severely shocked and sustained some grazes but did not need hospital treatment.
Detectives still wish to trace two possible witnesses – a man wearing a black top and black shorts and a woman with long dark hair and wearing a orange jacket. They are pictured in a CCTV image on the corner of Tidy Street.
Detective Inspector Lee Horner said: “We would like to thank all the witnesses who have come forward so far. We would still like to hear from any other witnesses particular the two people in the CCTV image on the corner of Tidy Street who many have information. Contact us on 101 or online quoting Operation Overdown.
*Michael Belhawla appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (9 May) charged with attempted kidnap and attempted sexual assault by touching of an eight-year-old girl in Tidy Street, Brighton, on Saturday (5 May). Belhawla, 24, of no fixed address was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on 6 June.
