A man from Chadwell Heath who tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his minibus by saying “we can be friends” has been jailed.

Tariq Qayyum, 61, has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Qayyum first made contact with the girl, who he did not know, on December 11 last year by waving at her as she headed home from school.

Four days later he approached the girl again as she made the journey home from school on December 15 in Church Hill Road, Barnet.

He parked his minibus in front of the victim, opened the passenger door from the driver’s side and leaner over to tell the child: “We can be friends.”

The victim said no and walked off.

The 11-year-old then reported the incident to her school on Monday. It was then reported to police.

An investigation was immediately launched by Barnet CID who stepped up patrols in the surrounding area in Barnet and circulated a description of both the minibus and the suspect.

The victim’s school also circulated the information among parents and later someone saw the minibus and recorded its registration plate.

The parent then contacted police and, as a result, he was arrested on January 18 and was charged the next day.

Qayyum pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court on February 5 to attempting to take a child so as to remove them from a person having lawful control.

He was sentenced on March 16 to three years in jail.

DC Paul Chase, from Barnet CID, said: “Naturally there has been a lot of alarm and concern following this incident.

“I am pleased that we have caught the culprit and brought him to justice.

“During the course of this investigation we have learnt that Qayyum sought to befriend the victim, waving to her four days prior to this attempt to lure her into his vehicle.

“This led up to his attempt to get her into his vehicle. The young girl showed great courage and assertiveness in leaving the area immediately and reporting the matter.”