Concerns are growing among parents in Swindon after a young girl was approached and touched by an unknown man at Shaw Ridge Park, in what locals say is the second disturbing incident at the same location within days.
Nadine Blythe took to the Swindon Community Notice Board Facebook group to warn other parents after her daughter had an unsettling encounter at the park on the evening in question.
According to Blythe, her daughter was on the swings around 6:30 pm, talking to a friend over the phone, when the call suddenly ended after her friend’s phone died.
Almost immediately, a man who had been sitting on a nearby bench walked over and asked if she wanted to be pushed on the swing.
When the girl refused, the man pushed her anyway, with his hands reportedly near her waist and lower back. She quickly got off the swing, mounted her bike, and rode straight home.
Blythe described the man as being in his 40s, with dark hair and a moustache, wearing a grey sweatshirt and jeans, and speaking with a thick Indian accent.
She was keen to stress that her main concern was community safety, urging parents to keep a close eye on children using the park.
A Pattern of Concern at the Same Park
What makes the incident particularly alarming for residents is that it did not happen in isolation. Blythe also revealed that a separate man had exposed himself at the very same park just days earlier, raising fears that the area has become a target for predatory behaviour.
The park reportedly has no CCTV coverage, which residents say makes it harder for offenders to be identified and tracked.
Blythe confirmed she contacted the emergency services but found the process deeply frustrating. “Called 999, told to call 101. Did that, got directed to a website to log it. Waiting for call back. Its disgusting,” she wrote.
She also stated her intention to visit the park herself that evening to look out for the individual, adding that there were no community support officers in the area.
Community Reacts With Anger and Calls for Action
The post quickly attracted a wave of responses from concerned residents.
Natalie Saunders wrote,
“Your poor daughter. How frightening. Thank goodness she has a bike to get away quickly.”
Amy Solomon offered reassurance to any child who might find themselves in a similar situation, saying,
“I am happy for any child to come to me for help if I am there with my daughter. I will help them as if they were my own.”
Sarah Corke suggested a practical solution, proposing that residents living near the park set up a WhatsApp group modelled on neighbourhood watch schemes to share information and descriptions quickly.
Ujjwal Singh urged the family to formally report the incident, noting that police may be able to check nearby cameras to identify the suspect.
Johnathon Brian Smedley called for parents to take more proactive steps, writing,
“With more and more of these reports coming to light I find it concerning that more proactive steps are not being taken.”
Wiltshire Police had not issued a formal statement at the time of publication. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour at the park by calling 101 or logging it via the police online reporting portal.
