A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to over four years in prison for attempting to abduct a 17-year-old girl in Swindon, Wiltshire. The incident, which occurred on March 6, 2024, was captured on CCTV and has raised alarms about the safety of young girls in public spaces.
The footage shows Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam attempting to drag the girl across the street around 21:00 local time. She was waiting to cross at a set of traffic lights when Adam approached from behind, seizing her and prompting her to scream in fear. Despite her efforts to escape, he proceeded to pull her back onto the road. Fortunately, nearby members of the public intervened, managing to free the frightened teenager and prevent the abduction.
Following the incident, the girl’s mother reported the attack to the authorities later that evening. Adam fled the scene but was pursued by a witness who recorded his escape on a mobile phone. He was arrested shortly thereafter and charged with attempted kidnapping.
During a court appearance at Swindon Crown Court on December 12, 2024, Judge Jason Taylor KC highlighted the severity of Adam’s actions. He stated that the defendant posed a “significant risk of serious harm to the public,” particularly to women. Judge Taylor emphasized the need for protection for potential victims, saying, “Those members of the public most at risk are female.”
In addition to his prison sentence of four years and one month, Adam will face a licensing period of just under three years for public protection upon his release. The judge detailed the disturbing nature of Adam’s behavior, noting that he had attempted to engage the victim in conversation about money before making inappropriate remarks.
Witnesses reported that Adam continued to push and drag the girl despite her loud screams, which were captured on bus CCTV footage. Judge Taylor remarked on the audacity of Adam’s behavior, stating that he appeared “smiling as if he had done nothing wrong” during the attack.
Adam is believed to have arrived in the UK on a small boat in September 2023, fleeing from the Darfur region of Sudan. Within two months of his arrival, he encountered legal issues for entering the country without valid entry clearance. His case experienced an eight-month delay due to his refusal to cooperate with legal representation, and it remains unclear if he has sought asylum or if there were conditions attached to his initial encounter with law enforcement.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions on public safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals. As the community reflects on this alarming event, many are calling for increased vigilance and measures to ensure the safety of young girls in public spaces.
