17026PARENTS have been told to be extra vigilant after a man approached a six-year-old boy as he played outside his home.

Police are investigating after a man in his early 20s walked up to schoolboy Gabriel Jones as he rode his bike in The Spa, Melksham, at lunchtime on Saturday and made bizarre comments about a murder, before asking him to steal money from his parents.

Gabriel, a pupil at St Michael's Primary School, handed over £1.50 he had saved up, but cycled back home when the stranger asked him to steal in return for a ride in a car.

Gabriel's parents, Evelyn and Richard, said the incident left them concerned about the man's motives and anxious to warn other parents.

Mrs Jones, 44, said: "Gabriel knows he must never go off with anyone. He only ever goes up and down The Spa and nothing has ever happened before.

"Gabriel wasn't frightened. He just said he had been very kind and given his £1.50 to a man. I just thought 'what has happened, what is going on?'

"He is safe, that is the main thing. I feel very angry a grown-up has approached a very innocent, happy six-year-old boy and taken his money, and tried to get more.

"I hope this person doesn't have any sinister motive but it is still dishonesty."

Gabriel told police the man approached him and said: 'I've killed him, I've killed him, I have pulled his head off'. Then, pointing to a house nearby, he went on to ask Gabriel for his money before saying 'go and take a tenner from your mum's purse because I need some petrol for my mate's car."

The man told Gabriel he could have a ride in his friend's car if he got the money, but Gabriel refused.

Mr Jones followed the man in his car after hearing his son's account, but lost sight of him when he turned off Devizes Road.

But Mr Jones saw the suspect on Tuesday afternoon and took a picture with his digital camera. The photo is now with police.

He said: "This is out of the ordinary. You wouldn't expect that kind of dialogue to be used with a young child. It is almost like trying to take Gabriel into his confidence. You cannot second guess why this chap has done this. It seems completely inappropriate to take money off a young child."

Mr and Mrs Jones, who have two older sons Ross, 12 and Luke, 13, said they wanted their children to feel safe playing in the street.

Pc Ann Morris, beat officer for Bowerhill, said the incident had left a nasty taste.

"Obviously our aim would be to identify this person so he can be spoken to," she said. "It is worrying someone is approaching children of that age. We are concerned this doesn't happen again and want to alert other parents.

"We want people to make sure they know where their kids are at all times."

The man is described as 5ft 10ins, in his late teens or early 20s, of medium build, with a lumpy face and short dark hair.

He was dressed in a blue and white bandana or baseball cap, dark coloured top and light blue jeans.

If you can help the inquiry call Melksham police.