Man tried to lure four-year-old girl away from mother in Leeds Primark store
A man who touched a three-year-old girl in a Primark store in Leeds and returned two days later to try and lure a four-year-old girl away from her mother will be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.
Hamish Hackett, 21, went into Primark at Trinity Leeds shopping centre just before 6pm on July 6 2018 and targeted a three-year-old girl, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor, Ismael Uddin said Hackett was spotted on CCTV acting strangely and looking at children.
Mr Uddin said Hackett held out his arm and touched the three-year-old girl on her shoulder before he walked out of the store.
The court heard Hackett returned to the same Primark store two days later just before 1.30pm on July 8 and stood close to a four-year-old girl.
Mr Uddin said Hacket held out his hand to beckon her before the girl said “no, no, no.”
Hackett ran away when he saw the girl’s mother but was detained by a female security guard in the store.
The court heard Hackett, of Regent Street, Sheepscar, Leeds, was arrested.
Hackett, who has no previous convictions, later admitted two charges of abducting a child.
The court heard Hackett was assessed by two forensic psychiatrists who concluded he posed a danger to the public.
Judge Mushtaq Khokar sentenced Hackett to a hospital order and said he will be detained indefinitely under section three of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Judge Khokar said: “I’m satisfied that you were suffering from a mental disorder, namely autism and a certain form of psychosis.”
