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Stranger tried to kidnap children at popular Cardiff splashpad and targeted nursery

A court heard one child now wakes up screaming 'he is coming to get me' after the incident

[The splash area at Victoria Park in Cardiff]

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The splash area at Victoria Park in Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Agency)

A stranger attempted to kidnap two children at a busy splashpad in front of their mums and targeted a nursery the next day, a court has heard. Moynul Janu, 35, walked up to a four-year-old girl and 16-month-old girl as they played in the water fountains at a park. A worried mum intervened when she spotted stranger Janu approaching her child before he said he was: "Grabbing the kids."

A court heard the "physically vulnerable" four-year-old, who suffers with health issues, now wakes up screaming: "He is coming. He is coming to get me."

Prosecutor Bethan Evans said Janu entered a nursery the following day where he walked "quickly and directly" at a member of staff and tried to guess the code to the door. Dont miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Janu had been at the splashpad in Victoria Park, Cardiff, in July last year when he approached the children.

Miss Evans said: "The defendant approached the first child, who was four-years-old, and touched her leg with his own leg and put his foot on the top of the splash fountain.

"At that stage the mother moved her four-year-old away from the defendant and walked away."

The court heard the horrified mum walked up to another mother in the park to explain what had happened with Janu. Miss Evans said: "As she began to explain, the defendant went and stood between the mothers.

"He said that he was grabbing the kids and took hold of each of the children by their arms. Fortunately at that stage one of the mother's blocked the defendant's path and both mothers shouted at him."

The court heard Janu then tapped the older child on the head before he was seen walking off while talking into his smart watch. Miss Evans said the horrified parents alerted the park attendants who stopped and spoke to Janu.

He claimed he had a wife and children in Bangladesh but was looking for a job as he was homeless in the UK. The court heard he was detained by police before they drove him to Cardiff city centre where he was dropped off.

Miss Evans said just one day later Janu walked into a nursery in Pencoed, South Wales, where he loitered in the foyer. She said: "At the time there were around 17 children in the nursery. The defendant was seen standing in the middle of the foyer area of the nursery."

The court heard a nursery nurse saw Janu and believed he may want to inquire about childcare before she asked if everything was ok.

Miss Evans said Janu began walking "quickly and directly" at her before coming within 30cm of her.

She managed to get away as the door to the nursery locked automatically behind her.

Miss Evans said: "The defendant tried to push the buttons and guess the code in order to gain access to the nursery."

The court heard police were called before Janu was found loitering outside 15 minutes later and was arrested.

In a victim impact statement, the mother of the four-year-old girl at the splash pad said her daughter is "physically vulnerable" with health problems.

She said her child wakes up screaming: "He is coming. He is coming to get me."

The mum said: "I feel angry that someone who would harm children was in the park to begin with."

The court heard the mum of the 16-month-old had gone to the park as a way of dealing with her own anxiety about leaving the house.

She said: "One that day I went out to the park with my daughter convincing myself there was nothing to worry about but then a strange man tried to take my child in front of me."

She said she is now "too scared" to stay home alone with her children and has spiralling thoughts of Janu having weapons or being involved in a gang.

Defending Andrew Kendall said Janu was suffering the effects of his bipolar affective disorder at the time of the incident.

He said: "He was a man who at the time of this incident was clearly very unwell."

Janu admitted three counts of attempted abduction of a child.

Judge Richard Kember handed Janu, of no fixed abode, a hospital order under Section 37 of the mental health act.

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