Man, 45, 'tried to abduct schoolgirls' outside Merry Hill shops and around the Black Country
A road worker allegedly tried to lure schoolgirls into his BMW at the Merry Hill shopping centre, a jury heard.
Shawn Jones, aged 45, would lie in wait in his car at the centre and streets across the Black Country as he tried to entice them to go with him, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Jones blew kisses at the girls, who were aged 12, 13 and 14, and complimented them on their looks, said Mr Simon Phillips, prosecuting.
He said Jones had a sexual interest in the youngsters and wanted to drive them away.
The jury was told Jones preyed on the girls in Kates Hill and Cradley, as well as Merry Hill.
A 14-year-old girl walking in Kates Hill was approached by Jones in his car on January 15 last year, Mr Phillips said.
After telling her she was beautiful he offered to drive her around, the court heard.
He allegedly pursued the teenager as she tried to leave the scene telling him, 'leave me alone'. Mr Phillips said she was extremely upset and on the verge of tears.
On April 14, Jones is alleged to have approached a 12-year-old girl in Cradley.
The jury heard he told her she was nice looking and asked her if she wanted to go for a ride – and when she refused he drove off. The girl told her mother what had happened and an investigation was launched.
Officers recovered CCTV and it showed a BMW pulling up alongside the girl, the court heard.
It was discovered the car was registered to the home of Jones in Norwood Road, Brockmoor, Brierley Hill and he was arrested.
When questioned he said he had lent his car to other people he could not name and he was bailed. But on June 20 Jones is said to have seen two girls sitting in a car parked at the back of KFC at the Merry Hill centre.
Mr Phillips said Jones told the girls he loved them and he blew them kisses before asking them to get in his car.
After one of the girls made a note of Jones' car registration he was arrested and admitted being at the scene but denied acting inappropriately.
"He was sexually interested in the girls because of what he said to them," alleged Mr Phillips.
"He wanted to take them away, to detain them and commit some sort of sexual offence. At the very least he attempted to abduct them for an unknown purpose."
Jones denies four charges of attempted abduction and four of attempting to abduct a child with intent to commit a sexual offence.
The trial continues.
