12 December 2025
Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, 28, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday after admitting to the crim, which happened in March.
His attempt to kidnap the 17-year-old girl was thwarted when members of the public intervened.
The court heard a statement from his victim in which she said she hoped Adam was jailed as she “wouldn’t feel safe” unless he was in prison.
“I hope you learn how to be a good person. Most of all I hope you get locked up because I know if you were out in the world, I wouldn’t feel safe and I’d worry you’d do this again to another young girl,” the statement said.
The court heard that on 6 March she was walking through Swindon town centre when Adam, of Stanier Street in the town, tried to engage with her multiple times, even as she tried to flag down passing vehicles.
When she crossed the road at the traffic lights he ran towards her, grabbed her and dragged her back across the road.
Members of the public on a bus intervened and Adam ran off before trying to talk to another woman and following her when she walked away.
He also followed a female witness to the earlier kidnapping, but again the public intervened and stopped him.
Adam, who pleaded guilty to attempted kidnap in October, will serve a further two years and 11 months on licence once he is released.
‘Predatory behaviour’
In her personal statement, the victim said she now understood why some women say they “don’t feel safe to walk at night”.
“The world has too many people like you,” her statement said to Adam.
“Although you are one of many, the world gets a little safer with every person locked away” she added.
Police praised the the “immense bravery and strength” of the victim and thanked the public for their intervention.
Investigating officer Det Con Anna McCormack from Wiltshire Police said Adam had “displayed predatory behaviour towards a number of women”.
“I hope the conviction and today’s sentencing of Adam shows how seriously we take these offences and that there is no place for it in Wiltshire,” she added.