Paedophile targeted schoolgirls

A paedophile who stalked young girls outside schools in south London has been jailed for 26 months.

James Hayward, 21, pounced on a 15-year-old schoolgirl in March 2007 but her "loud screams" forced him to flee.

Twelve weeks later he tried to kidnap a 10-year-old girl on her way home, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Hayward, formerly from Underhill Road, East Dulwich, south-east London, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted kidnapping.

He was cleared of a second attempted kidnapping.

Both offences involved the targeting of young vulnerable girls and choosing quiet residential streets to assault or try to kidnap them Judge Robert Fraser

The court heard how Hayward crept up on the 15-year-old girl as she made her way to morning lessons and suddenly grabbed her bottom.

He fled when she screamed and a passerby arrived.

Then in June he "loitered" outside a south London primary school before trying to kidnap a girl walking home with a friend after orchestra practice.

Approaching from behind, he tapped the victim on the arm before clapping his hand over her mouth and "swung her on to his shoulder".

The distressed girl was too terrified to call for help and it was her friend who screamed, forcing Hayward to run off.

Hayward was arrested days later as he jogged around groups of young girls heading to school.

Sentencing him, Judge Robert Fraser said: "The effect of what you did must have been absolutely terrifying for the children involved.

"Both offences involved the targeting of young vulnerable girls and choosing quiet residential streets to assault or try to kidnap them."

Hayward, who moved to Westbourne Road, Bristol, was made the subject of a five-year sexual offences prevention order and banned from working with children indefinitely.