Boy, six, tells jury of moment Southampton teen ‘led him into woods’
A six-year-old boy recounts his encounter with a teen who led him into the woods, sparking a serious court case in Southampton.
Southampton, Hedge End, Jayden Smith, Child Safety, Court Case
Southampton: A six-year-old boy shared his story in court. He described how a stranger approached him in Hedge End. This man, 19-year-old Jayden Smith, tried to get the boy into his car.
The boy said Smith spoke to him three times. Each time, he asked questions like, “Do you know where my sister is?” The child refused to get in the car.
Instead, Smith took the boy by the hand to a nearby wooded area. There, he asked the child to expose himself and offered to do the same. The boy felt uncomfortable and said no.
During the trial, prosecutor Mark Ashley explained how Smith engaged with the boy on July 3, 2024. He approached the child multiple times before leading him into the woods.
In a police interview, the boy called Smith a “bad man.” He explained how Smith held his hands and asked him about his genitals. The child said he only holds hands with people he knows.
The boy also mentioned that he didn’t want to go into the forest with Smith. He told police he felt uneasy about the whole situation.
Smith, who lives in Harefield, Southampton, denies the charges against him. The trial is ongoing.