A MAN has appeared in court in connection with incidents in Blackburn town centre on Sunday when members of the public reported a man paying attention to children.

The court heard Yves Tempels approached on three year old child, said “come here” and then tried to grab his arm, Blackburn magistrates were told.

Police received 10 reports within a 15-minute period from people who had been troubled by the defendant’s behaviour.

Tempels, 40, of Hermitage Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening behaviour and one of racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with bail conditions of residence, not to enter Blackburn and not to approach any child under the age of 18.

Glenn Anderton, prosecuting, said Tempels appeared to be intoxicated and was pestering people in the Mall.

“The reports to the police suggested he had been trying to take away or snatch children,” said Mr Anderton.

One of the first complainants was in the queue at McDonald's with his children.

The defendant was pulling drawings the children had done off the wall and was kissing them.

“The complainant found that very unusual and had to approach the defendant and ask him to stop using bad language in front of the children,” said Mr Anderton.

“He approached another female and was sniffing her hair, something he did on a number of occasions to a number of people.”

A woman outside Holland and Barrett with her two children, aged seven and three, saw him bending over her younger child.

“She heard the words ‘come here’ and saw him try and grab her child’s arm,” said Mr Anderton.

“She immediately took hold of her child, who was distressed, and led him away.”

Mall security staff were monitoring Tempels and made the decision to detain him until the police arrived.

He referred to Mubeen Khalifa, a member of the security team, as a monkey.

Mr Anderton said Tempels had been made subject to sex offender registration requirements for seven years in October 2022 for an offence of indecent exposure.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said his client had been in Rishton and the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital.

“After he was discharged he wasn’t feeling well but that doesn’t account for his bizarre behaviour,” said Mr Parkinson.

“He says it was out of character but his conduct was clearly of concern.”