Man tried to kidnap teen walking home from work

Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam pleaded guilty to attempted kidnap

A man has admitted trying to kidnap a 17-year-old girl as she walked home from work.

Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam approached the girl in Princes Street, in Swindon town centre, and started talking to her at about 21:30 on 6 March, Wiltshire Police said.

After Adam started following her, police said the girl tried to flag down passing vehicles but none of them stopped. The 27-year-old then grabbed the teenager as she crossed the road and dragged her back, the force added, before bus passengers intervened when their vehicle stopped at traffic lights.

Adam, of Stanier Street in Swindon, was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Swindon Crown Court on 12 December.

Following the incident with the teenager, police said Adam ran away down Princes Street, close to the Wyvern Theatre, and tried to engage with and follow another woman before she got away.

He then followed a woman who witnessed his attempt to kidnap the 17-year-old, before members of the public intervened again, they added.

The victim's mother reported the incident to police later that evening and Adam was arrested and charged with attempted kidnap.

'Distressing ordeal'

Police said Adam had refused to engage with police and the courts process before entering his guilty plea earlier.

Det Con Anna McCormack, from Wiltshire Police, paid tribute to the victim for her "strength".

"This was a terrifying incident for the victim and I appreciate the significant impact this will have on the victim moving forward," she said.

She also thanked members of the public who intervened during the incident.

Dale Sheehan, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam preyed on a teenager while she was walking home, putting her through a distressing ordeal after he grabbed her from behind."

He added the intervention from the public was "instrumental" in securing the conviction.