Schoolgirl, 10, fights off would-be abductor in Coventry

A 10-year-old girl fought of a would-be abductor who tried to grab her as she pushed her bike along a residential street in the Midlands. 

Police were alerted at 4.15pm on Sunday after the girl reported a man taking hold of her arm as she walked in Poole Road, Coventry.

The youngster managed to struggle free as a member of the public intervened and escaped with just minor grazes after falling to the floor.

The girl provided a detailed description of the attacker and his vehicle during an interview with specially-trained officers, West Midlands Police said.

Last night, police arrested a 40-year-old Coventry man in the Tile Hill area of the city and seized a vehicle suspected of being used during the offence.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Burton said: ‘Clearly this was a worrying incident and the enquiry was prioritised with additional officers drafted in to help with an extensive CCTV trawl of the area.

‘Enquiries led us to the Tile Hill area of Coventry at around 7.15pm last night where we arrested a man on suspicion of attempted kidnap.

‘We’re still keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to us – or who saw a blue 5-door Peugeot 307 driving in the area of Poole Road, Radford, on Sunday afternoon.’