Police are regularly patrolling the area around South Hampstead High School after two pupils were followed and harrassed by male strangers

In the most recent incident on Wednesday morning, March 11, a teenage schoolgirl was walking along Finchley Road on her way to South Hampstead’s senior school when she was approached by an unkempt man outside Cafe Nero who tried to speak to her and then followed her.

In a letter to parents, deputy head Clare Wagner describes: “She was approached by a man on the Finchley Road. He was in his late 50s, was possibly intoxicated, was unkempt..he tried to speak to the girl and followed her a short way.”

The girl reported the incident to her teachers when she arrived at the school in Maresfield Gardens, who immediately called the police.

Mrs Wagner said: “They (police) will continue to patrol the area around the school regularly. Once again, could you please tell your daughters that they must immediately call the police on 999 if they feel unsafe in any way.

“This will ensure that the police are informed immediately and it will help them to find the culprit in the local area as quickly as possible.

“Tutors and Heads of Year will also be speaking to the girls about this tomorrow morning,” she added.

This follows another incident on January 21 when a South Hampstead pupil in year eight was walking to school along Maresfield Gardens when she was approached by an man of Asian appearance in his 30s who began filming her on his mobile phone.

As reported in the Ham & High, a South Hampstead spokeswoman said: “He was filming the girl with his mobile phone and then he invaded her personal space and spoke to her. She kept walking and when she got to school she went straight in and told teachers.”

Anyone with information about either incident should call 101.