I did wonder that as London is hardly a very safe city, however, I know people that do allow their children to go home alone at that age.

His intentions were clearly to do her harm, and if he felt bold enough to attempt an abduction, I dread to think what the outcome would have been. Paedophiles are beyond rehabilitation, and should be imprisoned for life or given the needle.

Poor girl that must have been terrifying.  Why though is a 9 year old going home from school alone?

Police have released CCTV image of a man suspected of trying to kidnap a nine-year-old girl on her way home, by luring her with sweets.

The girl left her school in Wandsworth, south London, on 2 November and got on a bus on Putney High Street at around 4.45pm.

She got off at Dover Park Drive after 15 minutes on the bus, and saw a man sitting at the stop. The man tried to strike up a conversation with the girl, trying to lure her to his house with the promise of sweets.

She refused his advances and ran away, but he chased her home and tried to grab her by her hair as she got near to the building.

The girl managed to close the door behind her so he could not get in.

Detective Constable Matt Morse, leading the investigation, said: “While incidents like this are rare we are very keen to trace this man and would urge anyone who can identify him to come forward.”

The suspect is a tall, black man, who was wearing dark clothes.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting the reference 5937/02NOV.

Photo credit: Metropolitan Police