A man has admitted trying to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Swindon in what police described as a “terrifying incident” for the victim.
Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, of Stanier Street, Swindon, approached the teenager in Princes Street, near Fleming Way, at around 9.30pm on 6 March this year as she was walking home from work.
As the 27-year-old started to follow her, she tried to flag down passing vehicles.
When she crossed the road at traffic lights, Adam grabbed her and dragged her back across the road, said Wiltshire Police.
Passengers from a bus which had stopped at the lights then intervened, before Adam ran off.
Police said he ran down Princes Street, where he tried to talk to another woman and attempted to follow her before she got away.
Adam then followed a female witness to the attempted kidnap of the teenager, before members of the public intervened.
The victim’s mother contacted the police that same evening.
Adam was later arrested and charged with attempted kidnap.
He refused to engage with police and the courts process before pleading guilty at Swindon Crown Court, police said.
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Detective Constable Anna McCormack said: “This was a terrifying incident for the victim, and I appreciate the significant impact this will have on the victim moving forward.
“I would like to pay tribute to her for the strength she has shown throughout the process.
“I’d also like to thank the various members of the public who assisted the victim at the time of the incident, who potentially ensured that the incident wasn’t much worse than it was.”
Adam has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 12 December.
