Police called after stranger invites teenage girls to join him at church in Stortford

A mother of two 15-year-old girls contacted police after a man tried to persuade her daughters and their friend to get into his car so he could take them to church in Bishop's Stortford.

According to the mother’s post on Facebook, the girls had been at the village green in Hatfield Broad Oak on Sunday evening when they became aware they were being followed and watched by a man they estimated to be in his late 60s or early 70s.

She reported that the man beckoned the girls over and asked if they would like to go with him to Bishop’s Stortford Baptist Church.

They phoned their mother, who hurried to meet them. When she arrived, she told the man to leave the girls alone, but he refused so she called Essex Police.

A spokesperson for the force said that officers who attended the scene decided that it was “not an accosting situation”. After speaking to the three girls and to the man, they did not believe there was anything sinister about his motivation.

The spokesperson said: “We received reports at around 6pm on Sunday, March 4, that a man had approached three teenage girls in High Street, Hatfield Broad Oak.

“Officers attended and ensured the welfare of the girls. Words of advice were also given to a man. No offences were reported.”

Rev John Walford, senior minister at Bishop’s Stortford Baptist Church, said that the church had been made aware of the situation.

The man was not a regular member of the church, but did attend some services there with his mother, said Mr Walford, who added that he thought the man had been “foolish”.

“I would strongly discourage anyone in the church from acting in a way that he did,” he said. “Even if his actions were harmless, they caused anxiety to others.”

Mr Walford said that the church’s number one priority was to ensure the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults. “We go to great lengths to ensure their safety,” he said.