Safe haven for terrified girl in Braintree (From Gazette)

Safe haven for terrified girl in Braintree

A terrified girl ran into a supermarket safe haven to escape a man who was following her in Braintree town centre.

The 12-year-old girl ran into the new Somerfield store in Rayne Road after hearing it was part of the Safety Place scheme.

Shops in the town have joined the initiative offering youngsters a safe haven if they are worried or feeling vulnerable.

The girl dashed into the store after she spotted a man following her as she walked alone in the dark.

Staff comforted the child and called the police before telephoning the girl's mother to come and collect her.

Police spokesman Steve Turner said: "A 12-year-old girl told staff that a male had been following her around town. It had obviously caused her some distress."

She described the man as being 5ft 8ins and of mixed ethnic origin. He was wearing a blue jacket, had dark spiky hair and was carrying a mobile phone.

The incident happened at 4.45pm on Thursday.

Stisted mum Freya Paul, the brains behind the pioneering Safety Place project, is delighted the girl knew she could find some sanctuary in the supermarket.

She said: "I am very pleased with the way this worked out. The staff handled it really well.

"The message is obviously getting across to children they can go and get help. This little girl must have had an awful fright."

Recently a three-year-old toddler was reunited with his mum after a passer-by contacted Feathers hair salon in the town centre because it had a Safety Place sticker.

Mrs Paul said: "He was crying his eyes out, and a lady brought him into Feathers because she saw the Safety Place sticker."

They called the police and his mum was found after about quarter of an hour."

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