Hull Fair abduction trial told 'three men plotted to snatch child'

TWO parents have told a court how they saw a gang of men plotting to abduct a child at Hull Fair.

Mum-of-two Judith Sullivan told a jury at Hull Crown Court she witnessed a gang of men plotting to take a child before seeing one of them lift up a little boy holding his mother's hand.

Daniel Banasik, 28, is on trial charged with attempted child abduction at Hull Fair on October 12 last year after he was accused of grabbing a five-year-old boy.

Mrs Sullivan told the court she saw three men and one slapped his friend on the shoulder as a "signal".

She said: "One of them slapped him on his back. He was indicating what was going to take place.

"One moved to the left side of the child and the other moved to the right of the child.

"The child was with his mum and the taller man scooped him up.

"It was very well organised.

"I said to the lady 'You must ring the police.'

"It made me feel sick. I have children of my own and they were hysterical.

"The mother was hysterical, like all mothers would be."

Mrs Sullivan told the court she followed the men and said she was 100 per cent sure the man arrested, Mr Banasik, was the same man who had tried to abduct a child.

Mr Banasik's barrister Craig Lowe put it to her: "I suggest you have put two and two together and have presumed it is the same person."

Dean Boddy had visited the fair with his wife and son and told the court he also followed the men responsible until the police arrived.

Mr Boddy, 25, said: "For some reason, I just noticed a kid next to me and some arms going underneath him to lift him up, I honestly thought it was his dad. "Then I heard her shouting erratically for her husband.

"My partner rang 999 and I followed the man with the boy's father and the police were on their way."

In cross-examination, Mr Lowe suggested to Mr Boddy that he had been mistaken.

He said: "I'm suggesting there was someone arrested and detained by the police and that was the defendant but he did not try to lift up and take a child."

Mr Boddy insisted it was Mr Banasik who had tried to take the child.

It is alleged Mr Banasik tried to abduct the boy and had a bag with him containing children's toys.

The court has already been told how the little boy was holding his mother's hand at the fair while his stepdad went to buy him a bubblegun.

The mum previously told the jury she had spotted a man looking at children before the alleged attempted abduction.

She told the court: "I thought he was a bit scary he was just looking at children. I held my son's hand even tighter.

"I just saw a man looking down at my son, he was too close to my son, then I just felt my son being lifted up from me. I felt a tug, pulling him. I grabbed hold of my son's trouser leg. I thought 'You are not having him'.

"I just shouted hysterically."

The man put the child down and allegedly said 'miserable' before walking off.

The mum screamed for her partner and he followed the man she had identified and called the police.

Mr Banasik was arrested at the junction of Anlaby Road, west Hull, by the police.

The boy's stepfather told the court he heard his partner screaming and followed the alleged abductor.

It is alleged the defendant was with another man and they met up with another couple before separating again.

Prosecutor Nigel Clive said: "He had a rucksack with him and when the police looked inside there were three small children's figurines.

"He told the police he did not know what they were all talking about.

"He was arrested and interviewed and said he had never picked up a child. It was busy and he had simply moved the child to one side so he could walk by."

Mr Banasik, of Pendrill Street, west Hull, denies the charge and the trial continues.