CALLS have been made for more police patrols after a man grabbed a 13-year-old girl and dragged her through a graveyard as she walked to school.

The schoolgirl was walking through Hove Cemetery on her way to Hove Park Lower School at 8.10am yesterday when a man tried to drag her away before she managed to break free and run.

It comes after there were four incidents of indecent exposure in the last month in the same area, including one where a man tried to grab another schoolgirl.

Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward. Officers do not believe the incidents are linked.

The attacker was described as a large tanned man, approximately 6ft tall, aged between 40 and 50, with dark hair which was long enough to tuck behind his ears. He was wearing a long brown t-shirt, brown baggy trousers, and a red scarf with white dots about his neck.

Councillor Dawn Barnett, who represents the area, called for more police to be on patrol in the area and advised children to walk to school in pairs for safety.

She said: “This is very worrying.

“I wish we could get PCSOs around the area more often.

“We’ve had quite a few incidents recently. The police say they are not linked but it feels like too much of a coincidence.

“We’ve not really had any problems like this before.

“Children should pair up and walk with a friend to school. They should be safe, it’s terrible when you can’t even walk to school.

“Lots of people walk that way as a short cut.

“I just wish we could have more police around.”

Detective sergeant David Rose said: “We are working closely with the school and will be carrying out extra patrols in the area. While incidents like this are obviously concerning, we are not currently linking this to any others. The public are reminded to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police.”

On March 7 a schoolgirl was confronted by a man who exposed himself, followed her and tried to grab her between 4pm and 4.30pm in Benfield Valley, Hove.

He was standing by a bike and tried to reach out and grab the girl after chasing her but she managed to escape.

The 11-year-old ran off towards the Greenleas football pitches to find help but people in the recreation ground ignored her.

She had already arranged to meet her father nearby and when they met up they called police.

The girl’s mother told The Argus the whole family was “really shaken up” and her daughter was “incredibly upset” because she asked people for help but was ignored.

Police said the incident may be connected to two others in the same area reported two days later. At 8am two 11-year-old boys were confronted by a man who exposed himself on a footpath just off the Hangleton Road roundabout. Later, two girls walking through the woods behind the Sainsbury’s supermarket reported seeing a man ride past them on a bike before turning to follow them towards Burlington Gardens.

On Saturday, March 25, at around 2.30pm, a girl was at Ladies Mile bus stop when a young man indecently exposed himself. He is described as being in his 20s or early 30s, slim, and approximately 6ft tall, and wearing a grey tracksuit.

On April 4, a man is also reported to have indecently exposed himself to a 10 year old girl and a five year old girl in Fairway Crescent, Portslade. He is described as black with a beard, in his 20s or 30s, wearing jeans, a red top and was driving a Citroen Berlingo van.

Witnesses or anyone with information about yesterday’s incident should call police on 101 quoting 248 of 26/04.