A man who inappropriately touched a girl as she travelled to school has pleaded guilty.

Alan Pummell, 56, of Hardwicke Road, admitted the attack at Hendon Magistrates Court this week and will be sentenced later this year.

The 12-year-old schoolgirl was walking to a bus stop on June 13 when she became aware of a man following her.

A woman witnessed the man touching the girl and pulling her towards him in Northolt Road, South Harrow

Seeing the girl was upset, the witness challenged Pummell. He then walked off and the witness lent the girl her phone to call her school.

After getting to school the victim told her teachers about the incident and they called the police.

Officers from Harrow CID scanned CCTV footage of the area and identified the suspect committing the offence.

On Monday June 16 the witness called police again to report she had seen Pummell near South Harrow market and that he had boarded a train at South Harrow Underground station.

Detectives met with the witness and followed the train by car, getting on at at Park Royal Station where Pummell was identified and arrested.

Detective Constable Sayed Quaraishi said: “This was a random attack in broad daylight and we thank the witness for her brave intervention and reporting the matter to us.

“Thanks to her quick reaction we were able to do everything in our power to arrest this dangerous man at the earliest opportunity.”