A creepy man at a Solihull school’s gates has sparked a warning from the headteacher after reports he has been staring and approaching pupils ‘asking for a hug’.
Valley Primary School has two sites in Old Lode Lane (juniors) and Fallowfield Road (infants), near to the Birmingham border.
It said it received an alert from police of a man waiting for children at the gates of the Fallowfield Road site at the end of the school day, ‘staring inappropriately and asking to hug the children’.
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He is said to have been ‘targeting’ children walking home between the Fallowfield Road site and Old Lode Lane.
The school’s headteacher, Susan Milewski, said the school had received a warning from police on Thursday (May 21) morning.
The head urged parents to be ‘extra vigilant’ when collecting their children.
She said the suspicious man was said to be Asian, around 50 years old and wearing a dark blue jacket and trousers.
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Miss Lewski said that children were only being released to people on a contact list or with the child’s password.
The school closed its gully on Thursday and it will be closed again on Friday (May 22) as the suspect is said to be ‘targeting this area’.
Year 6 pupils were being allowed to walk home on their own but parents were urged to collect their children where possible.
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Miss Lewski’s email to parents and carers in full said: “This morning, we have been informed by the police that there is a man (described as asian [sic], around 50 years old and wearing a dark blue jacket and trousers) who has been waiting for children to come out at the end of the school day, staring inappropriately and asking to hug the children.
“Please could we ask parents to be extra vigilant [sic] at collection and police have asked that anybody who see him calls 999.
“As usual, we will continue to only dismiss to those on the contact list or with the child’s password.”
Valley Primary School’s Junior site in Old Lode Lane -Credit:Google
It continued: “Also, as a precaution we will close our Gulley [sic] today and tomorrow as Police believe he may be targeting this area.
“Please collect from Fallowfield Road using the main gates today and tomorrow
“We will not stop Year 6 walking home as it seems he is targeting those walking between Fallowfield Road Site and Old Lode Lane.
“However, we would advise parents collect the children instead if possible. Children who usually walk home can be collected from the main entrance
“Apologies for any inconvenience, Miss Susan Milewski, Headteacher, Valley Primary School.”
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A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: “We received reports of a man acting suspiciously around Fallowfield Road, Elmdon.
“Officers carried out patrols and searches of the area but have not seen anyone matching the description.”