Van driver who approached schoolgirls jailed

A man who approached schoolgirls and made "perverted comments" towards them has been jailed.

Cash McLaughlin, from Manchester, was convicted of two counts of attempting to take a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Lancashire Police said a 15-year-old girl dialled 999 after she was approached by McLaughlin while on her way to school in Blackpool in May 2023, while a 14-year-old girl was also targeted while heading home.

McLaughlin, 34, was jailed for 27 months at Preston Sessions House.

Police said the first girl was walking down Daggers Hall Lane on 25 May when McLaughlin, who was in a van, asked for her phone number and to borrow a lighter.

After he made "sexualised comments" towards her, the 15-year-old walked away while calling the police.

McLaughlin, of Stanway Street in Manchester, then began to call her. Police said she had given him her number "out of fear".

Later that morning, officers received a report from a school in Blackpool that a 14-year-old student had also been recently approached.

The girl said she had noticed a van driving behind her on Blackpool Old Road.

Police said McLaughlin shouted "get in, get in" to her.

She refused, turned around and ran back towards her school.

McLaughlin responded by reversing his van and turning it around towards her.

Neither girl was touched or physically harmed.

McLaughlin was identified as the van's driver and arrested.

Det Con David Fewtrell said: "McLaughlin preyed on two vulnerable girls as they made their way to or from school, a journey that every child should feel safe to do.

"He followed them [and] made them feel uncomfortable and scared with his words.

"He made perverted comments towards them.

"I welcome the fact that he received a custodial sentence."

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