Pretoria cinema ‘child predator’ in court

The case against the man who was arrested over sexual misconduct with a minor in the east of Pretoria has been postponed.

Brooklyn police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said the man faced a sexual offence charge, Rekord Centurion reported.

A 10-year-old girl reported him for touching her inappropriately at a cinema last month.

Weilbach said the 49-year-old man was arrested at his home in Capital Park last week Monday.

The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit (FCS) in the Tshwane central cluster did the investigation.

The man appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, and the matter was postponed to March 22.

The man had been linked to at least one other offence that occurred at another cinema in Pretoria.

Weilbach said the mother bought her daughter a ticket for a children’s movie at a shopping mall in Pretoria.

She escorted her daughter inside the cinema to make sure she was seated and fine. The mother then left.

The man entered the cinema and took a seat next to the girl.

“After a while the man put his hand on the girl’s thigh. The girl immediately got up and ran outside where she complained to a woman,” said Weilbach.

“The man also left the cinema and ran away when the girl pointed him out.”

Weilbach warned parents not to allow their children to go to movies on their own or unsupervised.

The police provided the following safety advice for parents:

– Keep children close by at all times, and do not let them wander around unsupervised.

– Never use a shopping mall as a “baby sitter”; predators are on the prowl for unattended children.

– Always accompany children to public restrooms.

– Point out security guards, so your child knows where to go for help if he or she gets lost.

– There is safety in numbers therefore children and young people are advised to go out in groups and to remain within the group.

– Children must know not to talk to strangers. If someone troubles them, make them feel scare or uncomfortable they must report it to a security guard or a shop assistant.

– Make sure children know your cellphone number. Another excellent idea, especially for younger children, is to create a laminated ID card with their name and your contact information on it. Put it on the inside of their clothing which the can show to a store assistant or security guard if they get lost.

– Caxton News Service

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