Man convicted of attempted kidnapping, Shipley

Thursday, May 23, 2024

A Bradford man has been jailed after trying to lure two girls into his car in Shipley.

William Harrison, 63, of Armstrong Street, admitted two counts of taking a child away from a person having legal custody and two counts of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offenses took place in September 2022 when Harrison approached two eight-year-old girls in the Asda supermarket and offered them sweets. CCTV then showed him at the house and back to the car.

Harrison showed them an explicit picture of himself on his mobile phone and then offered them money to get into his car.

The girls left and were helped by two members of the public who took them home.

At Bradford Crown Court today (Thursday) Harrison was sentenced to four years. He was also made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Acting Detective Inspector Tom Swift of the Bradford District Safeguarding Team said:

“There are incidents of this nature very rare, but this was truly every parent’s worst nightmare. Harrison is a danger to children.

“Fortunately, these girls they were not injured but were clearly disturbed by what happened.

“I would like to commend the courage of the victims to come forward and report these crimes to us. Harrison’s guilty plea spared them from having to relive the incident.”