A man jumped out from behind a bush to chase two teenage girls in a ‘traumatic’ incident that has left locals worried for their children’s safety.
Merseyside Police are appealing for information following a suspicious incident in St Helens on Tuesday evening, September 28.
At around 7.50pm, two teenage girls were walking home from the East Lancs Road to Scafell Road in Moss Bank when a man jumped from bushes nearby.
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He allegedly swore at them and continued to chase the girls down the road until they arrived at one of their homes.
Police were made aware of the incident when it was reported at around 9.35pm.
Writing on Facebook, the mum of one of the girls who was chased wrote: “[My daughter] and her friend were walking home from a friend's house down an unlit path and a man leaped out of the bushes behind them and started to chase them whilst swearing and shouting at them.
“Given the recent murder in London of a young lady walking alone this was an extremely traumatic event for my daughter and her friend.”
Officers are now investigating the incident and have urged anyone with information to contact them.
St Helens Community Chief Inspector Paul Holden said: “This incident understandably caused the girls some distress, and we’re keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or lives nearby and may have captured details on home CCTV or other devices.
“It is unclear exactly why the man was behaving in this alarming manner and are keen to establish exactly what happened.
“We think two men in a small, red car parked on Scafell Road may have seen some or all of this incident so if that was you, come forward with any information or dashcam and we will take action.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police via Twitter (@MerPolCC), by calling 101 or calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 21000660162.
