COPS are hunting a man “smelling strongly of alcohol” who snatched a child from a bus stop and ran along the pavement with them.
The stranger approached a woman and her two young children while they waited at a bus stop in Cheltenham on Thursday.
Gloucester PoliceA stranger approached a woman and her two young children[/caption]
Gloucester PoliceCops have released images and would like to speak to the man pictured in connection with the incident[/caption]
Gloucester PoliceThe man smelled strongly of alcohol cops said[/caption]
The man – who smelled strongly of alcohol – picked up one of the children and ran along the pavement while carrying him, before bringing him back and putting him down.
The child was unharmed.
When the terrified mum challenged the man, he became verbally abusive towards her.
He then got on a bus which was heading in the direction of Cheltenham.
The incident happened at around 11.35am and the woman was understandably very shaken by the horror ordeal.
Officers attended and tried to locate the bus and search for the man, but he unfortunately wasn’t found.
Enquiries then took place with the bus company to obtain pictures.
Cops have released images and would like to speak to the man pictured in connection with the incident.
There were also a number of people at the bus stop at the time and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.
The man was described as being white, in his late 30s or early 40s, with short brown hair.
He was wearing beige shorts, a t-shirt and brown work boots.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: “Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an incident in Cheltenham on Thursday.
“It was reported that an unknown man had approached a woman and her two young children while they waited at a bus stop on Tewkesbury Road, close to Gallagher Retail Park.
“The man picked up one of the children and ran along the pavement while carrying him, before bringing him back and putting him down. The child was unharmed.
“When the mother challenged the man, he became verbally abusive towards her.
“He then got on a bus which was heading in the direction of Cheltenham. The incident happened at around 11.35am and the woman was understandably very shaken by the ordeal.”
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