Paedo branded ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ walks out of open prison into school to attempt abduction by knocking on classroom door
John Harris, 36, escaped HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire and headed to a school playground
A PAEDOPHILE who escaped an open prison walked to a school and put his arm round a girl's neck saying: "I'll just take this child", a court heard.
John Harris, 36, was jailed by a judge who described him as "every parent's worst nightmare" after he tried to kidnap the youngster.
Harris absconded from Leyhill Prison in October this year and made his way to the playground of a primary school.
He knocked on the door of a classroom which contained a teaching assistant and two pupils, including the victim.
She went to open the door trying to be helpful and Harris asked the assistant "Is this reception?", a court heard.
She said "no" and as he turned to leave he put his arm around a little girl's arm and neck and made his chilling declaration: "I'll just take this child".
The assistant grabbed his arm, telling him "I don't think so".
Another member of staff shepherded the two children to safety while the assistant escorted Harris to reception.
On the way he told her she should call police and she told him she would.
The headteacher was informed and the school went into lockdown.
Children were cowering under desks while Harris roamed the playground peering into windows and trying to open doors, it was said.
Cops arrived at about 9.45am and Harris immediately admitted he had absconded from Leyhill in Gloucestershire.
After he was arrested and put in a police car he told officers: "I just wanted to take a child."
Police informed staff at low-security Leyhill - who didn't even know the paedophile was missing.
Harris, originally from London, pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody, kidnap, and breach of a sexual offences prevention order.
Judge Michael Cullum said Harris was "truly frightening" and "a dangerous man" with a significant risk of re-offending.
Harris was jailed for seven-and-a-half years and sent back to a secure prison to serve his sentence.
He was also given an additional four years extended licence bringing the total sentence to 11 years six months.
The judge told him: "You are every parent's nightmare. A man escaped from prison and tried to take her away.
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"Her parents will never forget that, I only hope that she will. But I suspect at the age of eight it will always be known."
Bristol Crown Court heard Harris had previously walked onto a ward at a children's hospital brandishing a knife telling staff "I want to take a child".
He was said to have pointed the blade at a 12-year-old girl and said: "This one will do".
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