Police were called to a car park in Swindon on Bank Holiday Monday after a toddler was spotted locked alone in a vehicle without its windows open in the blazing sunshine.
The Honda Jazz was parked outside The Range in Fleming Way when a member of the public raised the alarm concerned about the welfare of the child – thought to be no older than three-years-old – who was inside the car with the windows closed and outside temperatures rising.
Wiltshire Police was alerted to the incident at 9.15am and as they were responding to the report, the father of the child returned from the store, got in and left the car park despite being informed that officers were en-route and people encouraging him to wait for them.
Officers managed to catch up with the man, pulling him over as he attempted to leave the area.
Speaking to Wiltshire 999s anonymously, the man who found the child left alone and called 999 said: “As a father myself, I felt disgusted at what I saw. I wouldn’t leave a child unattended whilst I went into a shop at any age – let alone a toddler.
“When he got back to the car, he acted as if it had done nothing wrong. I was disgusted by his attitude. I’m glad he was spoken to by the police.”
It is claimed he arrived back at the car about ten minutes after the police were contacted, but it is not clear how long the child was left locked in the car while he shopped.
A police spokesperson said: “On Monday morning (25/05) we received a call from a member of the public concerned about the welfare of a child on its own in a parked car in Fleming Way, Swindon.
“Officers spoke to the driver of the car and gave words of advice.
“No further police action was required.”
