Attack victim Sophie Watt of Wroughton with the doll she was carrying when she was attackedA BALACLAVA-clad man pounced on a 10-year-old girl and threatened to kill her as she walked home from an after-school club.

The attacker leapt out of a bush and grabbed schoolgirl Sophie Watts by her ponytail before saying: "Come here you, I'm going to kill you."

He then grabbed hold of the doll she was carrying and, as he loosened his grip on her, the terrified youngster managed to escape.

Police scoured the area following the incident in School Lane, Wroughton but the man had disappeared.

They believe the attack may have been a sick prank.

But Sophie's mum, Sarah Watts, 30, of Elcombe Avenue, is convinced it was an abduction attempt and says her daughter is now too scared to walk alone.

Sophie, who goes to Wroughton Junior School, was on her way home from an after-school club at 5.45pm on Friday when the man jumped out of the bush.

Ms Watts, a single parent, said: "He grabbed her ponytail and pulled her back.

"He said to her, 'Come here you, I'm going to kill you.'"

He then let go of Sophie, grabbed her doll and threw it in the bush.

As he did this, Sophie managed to get away and sped off on her scooter.

He followed her to Mark-ham Road but then turned back.

Sophie, who was almost home when the man struck, has been left petrified by what happened.

Ms Watts said: "She has been traumatised.

"I had to lock all of the doors in the house and she slept with me that night. She wouldn't even go to the bathroom on her own."

Sophie said the man was wearing black clothes, a balaclava and gloves.

"She has lost all of her confidence. She was nervous about going back to school. If she loses sight of me then she feels nervous.

"She wants me to walk her to the school gate now and is staying by my side."

During their search, police managed to find Sophie's doll and returned it to her.

Ms Watts said: "I was shocked and felt angry someone could do this to a little girl. Wroughton's usually a safe place.

Ms Watts, who has three other daughters, Amelia-Rose, 11, Chloe, eight, and Morgan, six, said it could have been an end-of-term prank by students at Ridge-way School.

She said: "It's quite sick if someone would do this. People who do must have a screw lose.

"This incident is going to stay with Sophie now for a long time."

Alvina Kumar, Swindon police spokeswoman, said: "It appears this incident may have been a prank.

"But we still need to locate the individual who was responsible.

"I would like to reassure the community that incidents of abduction are fortunately rare in Swindon and Wilt-shire remains one of the safest counties.

"However, I must stress that we do not underestimate the impact of fear of crime and accept that this incident would have been a frightening experience for the young girl.

"People who indulge in such pranks are irresponsible and clearly oblivious to the distress their actions can cause."

Deputy headteacher, Chris-topher Walton, at Ridgeway School, said that the incident was not a matter for the school.

"At 5.45pm any child is entirely the responsibility of their parents."

Anyone with information is asked to call Swindon police on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Lyndsay Scanlan