A man accused of trying to snatch a child from a shop has told a court - "I just wanted to play with him".

Yue Ting Chan, 45, of Kenmore Close, Canvey, denies attempting to abduct a three-year-old from under his mother's nose in Woolworth's on the island.

The Canvey mum had earlier told a jury at Basildon Crown Court how she confronted Chan as he pushed the buggy containing her son towards the door of the store.

But speaking through an interpreter, Chan said he hadn't intended to push the buggy out of the shop - and that he "just wanted to get a smile from the child".

Answering questions from defence barrister Rory Field, Chan said that in Chinese society it was usual to show children affection.

And he added that he had initially started pushing the buggy because it was blocking his path down an aisle.

He said: "I would have put it back afterwards. I wanted to make him happy and get a smile from him."

Field asked: "At that time did you think you had done anything wrong?" Chan: "No."

Earlier in the trial Graham Quinlan, the store manager, said the mother was "shaking" when she came to him to report the offence.

Sgt Neil Barrett went to the Mayflower Chinese restuarant, 80 yards from Woolworth's, where Chan works as a cook. There he arrested Chan after he admitted pushing a pram in the store.

The trial continues

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