THE mother of a seven-year-old girl who was snatched by a pedophile while out Christmas shopping has told of the horrific moment she realized she was gone.
The woman, who is not named to protect her daughter’s identity, said she frantically searched the Kmart in Brisbane, Australia when she realized her daughter had vanished after spotting a “really creepy” man.
The seven-year-old had been wandering the toy aisles last December, and periodically checking in with her mom.
Chilling CCTV footage shows 27-year-old Stirling Free stalking the youngster before beckoning her away.
The little girl followed “willingly” to his car before he drove her to remote bushland and carried out the sick sex attack.
When the girl’s mother realised she was missing she tore through the aisles looking for her vulnerable daughter.
She said: “I started going around the shop… went to the pet section, went through to the toy section but couldn't see her anywhere.”
But Free inexplicably dropped the seven-year old back to the Westfield in North Lakes.
The pedophile is said to have "broken down" in tears when driving her back.
She added the girl’s family have no idea what sex monster Free said to lure her from the safety of her mother, or why he brought her back.
The traumatised mom said: “We still don't know why she was returned, probably never will know.”
She added: “For whatever reason, she followed him quite willingly.”
Free, a father to twin baby girls was sentenced to eight years in prison but is eligible for parole next year.
Speaking after he was sentenced, the woman said: “My tiny innocent girl was well aware of stranger danger, however this person was friendly to her and tricked her into following him.
“No child should ever have to go through this type of trauma, and no sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her.”
The mom also chillingly described having a “gut feeling” after spotting Free closely watching the seven-year-old.
She said: There was a guy standing there leaning on the shelf… his eyes were just fixed on my daughter and he was only an arm's length away from her.
"I called for her and then he was startled, he looked at me and walked away.
"Straight away, I 100 per cent had a gut feeling that something wasn't right… now that I know what… happened I just feel sick.
"I had a gut instinct that guy was really creepy."
When sentencing the monster, the judge described Free’s crime as “abhorrent” and “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
Friends of the youngster’s family have set up a Gofundme to raise money for any future treatment she might need.
The goal is $20,000 AU – around $12,000.
The Gofund me describes Free’s sentence as having “little regard” for the seven-year-old’s future.
It goes on: “This beautiful, tiny girl has a lifetime of recovery from trauma ahead of her and deserves to be compensated for her ordeal.”
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