Police have spoken to the driver of a white HiLux ute who was being sought over an alleged child approach incident at Cessnock.
As we reported on Thursday, a 10-year-old girl claimed she and a group of children were followed by the man in his car on Wednesday afternoon before she was confronted by the driver in a nearby reserve who spoke to her before driving off.
Police caught up with man yesterday and it turns out he was annoyed after the children took fruit from his lemon tree - he decided to get in his car and follow them to give them a fright.
Officers counselled him about the appropriateness of his actions and no charges have been laid.
EARLIER:
Police are appealing for help to identify a man who approached a young girl at Cessnock.
The 10-year-old was walking with a group of children along Yilgarn Avenue at about 4.00pm on Wednesday when they noticed a white Toyota HiLux ute following them.
The children fled and a short time later the young girl was walking towards Old Maitland Road when the ute stopped in the reserve between Anzac Avenue and Alkira Avenue and the driver got out and spoke to her, but she ran off and the man drove away with the vehicle seen heading west along Anzac Avenue.
The man is described as being Caucasian in his early 20's with short dark hair. He was wearing brown shorts and a brown jumper. It's believed he has tattoos on his arm and leg.
Inspector Michael Gorman from Cessnock Police is urging anyone who saw the incident or knows the whereabouts of the vehicle to contact them.
"(It's) a very concerning incident with young people being approached, so we're certainly asking anyone who was in the vicinity of Anzac Avenue and Yilgarn Avenue around 4pm yesterday and may have seen the interaction between the male and the young girl or the vehicle driving off to please contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, " he said.
