‘Despicable’: Teenage girl afraid to go outside after alleged abduction attempt in Hosier Lane
A young girl has shared the terrifying details of the moment a man tried to grab her in broad daylight, before a bystander stepped in to save her.
A 14-year-old girl who escaped the clutches of a man who allegedly tried to abduct her in Melbourne’s CBD has said she is now scared to go outside.
The young girl, who cannot be named, told the media on Wednesday that her mind was “all over the place” as the unidentified man grabbed her in broad daylight along Hosier Lane last month.
Taking photos of the famous attraction, the young girl and her two schoolmates were out in the city as part of a school excursion when they were approached by a man and a woman at about 10.30am on November 15.
“We got approached by the man and he started talking to us, and we were quite confused, but like we didn’t think much of it,” she said.
The girl said the man appeared to be under the influence of something, proceeding to tell her how pretty she was and trying to grab her arm.
“Then he stuck his head in my face … and then he started to talk about how I was very pretty,” she said.
“Then he tried to grab my arm and tried to pull me closer to him.”
Likely noticing the danger the young girl was in, a man believed to be in his 20s interceded, claiming he was the girl’s teacher and explaining that she needed to go “back to class.”
“I just burst down into tears because I just realised what had gone on,” she said.
A month on from the incident and with police yet to find the culprit, the girl said she is scared to go out without people who make her feel safe.
“I feel scared when I see people who could come up to me and do those things, just strangers in the street.”
Victoria Police have exhausted all lines of inquiry a month on from the incident and are appealing for the public’s help to assist with the investigation.
Police are keen to speak to a man seen leaving the area on foot through Flinders Lane and Russell Street, accompanied by a woman.
He is described as having dark-coloured skin and a slim build.
He was wearing black sunglasses, dark-coloured long pants, a dark-coloured hoodie with a red hood, black shoes with white soles, and was carrying a black backpack and black bum bag.
The woman is perceived to be Asian in appearance, with a solid build and long black hair.
Police have released photos of the pair as they wish to speak to them.
Detective senior constable Joshua Guy said the brazen incident was “despicable” but assured it was an isolated event and there was no further threat to the area.
“It’s predatory behaviour out in our Melbourne streets at 10.30 in the morning, it’s certainly despicable,” Detective Guy said.
He commended the actions of the bystander who likely saved the young girl from being taken were “nothing short of heroic.”
The young girl’s mother, who cannot be identified, said what happened to her daughter was “horrific” and if it wasn’t for the man who helped, she is not sure what would have happened.
“Luckily the guy that stepped in because if not for him, we don’t know what the outcome could have been to her or her friends that she was with,” the mother said.
She said she hasn’t been in contact with the bystander but would love to thank him for what he did, adding that he easily could have just “walked away.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or with any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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