A nine-year-old girl is believed to have narrowly escaped being abducted by a pervert who tried to force her into his car.

The child had been walking to shops in Chandos Crescent, Edgware, on November 15 at 4pm when a blue Mondeo pulled up and the driver wound down the window of the passenger side to ask for directions.

When the girl approached the car, she saw that the man was indecently exposing himself.

He then grabbed her by the front of her coat but she managed to wriggle free and run to safety.

A police spokesman said: "It is worrying because we do not know what was on his mind. He could have been planning to abduct the girl."

The suspect is Asian, aged 43, stocky, with short black hair, full beard and moustache and brown eyes. He was wearing grey trousers and a beige jumper.

Anyone with information should call Sergeant Jeff Hunt on 020 8733 3441.

November 27, 2001 17:06