A MUM has told how she caught a man attempting to groom her nine–year–old daughter.

The youngster’s chilling experience left her feeling ‘upset’ while her mother said she ‘did not stop shaking for days’.

The Portland family contacted the Dorset Echo because they want to raise awareness of the dangers of social media and online chat rooms.

The mother had originally gone to the police with the information but was allegedly told they couldn't do anything unless 'harm had come' to her daughter.

However, after being contacted by the Echo, officers say they are investigating.

We have chosen not to identify the girl or her family, so the youngster can be spared any further distress.

The incident began when the youngster began to take an interest in YouTube videos, uploading her own creations.

Her mum said: “She started getting these comments on her videos from someone who said he was an 11-year-old boy, living in America. They were innocent comments at first, he seemed nice, but then he asked her to communicate on a private messenger account.”

When the girl began using private messages, the mum said, the questions changed. The youngster was asked to send photos of herself and her house, and to ask if she wore make up.

Her mum added: “He sent photos as well and that’s when things just didn’t add up. He had said he was from Denver, but in the photo he sent, of a young boy, there was a car in the background with a Nebraska number plate. And in another picture of a different boy – which he also claimed was a recent picture of him – he was holding a basket of Easter Eggs.

“He was asking for pictures and videos of our house and someone told me if you have a picture of a house, you can find out exactly where it is on Google Maps. It is very scary.”

She investigated and found that the same username her daughter had been communicating with had commented on another YouTube video claiming to remember the music of the 1980s.

“I suddenly realised this wasn’t a young boy, this was a grown man, someone potentially older than me. I couldn’t stop shaking for days. I told my daughter not to speak to him again.”

The mum logged in to her daughter’s account and made an accusation on a private message that the person was a paedophile.

“He didn’t deny it,” she said. “He just didn’t reply. We haven’t heard from him since. I contacted police in Dorset and in Denver but they both said because no explicit messages were sent, the law hasn’t been broken. Dorset Police said they would send someone round to talk to my daughter about online safety but they haven’t been in touch to arrange it.”

The mum decided to speak out to warn other parents.

“He could have any number of other profiles online. This is a grown man posing as a boy. It’s terrifying, thinking about what he wants from my daughter.

“Parents need to be aware this can happen. It’s not about trusting your own children, it’s not your children who need watching, it is the people they are talking to.

“I feel like the police could have been more reassuring. You hear so many stories about where these things can lead. It’s left me terrified.”

SPEAKING in her own words, the girl said: “His YouTube picture was of a Minecraft creeper face so I thought he was a kid like me. He told me he was 11 and I didn't doubt him.

“He kept leaving me really nice comments on YouTube so he seemed like a nice boy. We then started talking through private messages on Google Hangouts.

“When he asked me if I wear make up my first thought was why would you even care if I wear makeup. I thought it was really strange when he asked me to send him pictures of the outside of our house and garden and I didn't know why he would want to see that.

“When my mum found out he was really a grown man she told me straight away and I was really shocked and upset because he seemed really nice.

“Looking back now it is obvious he was a grown up but I didn't see it at the time.

“I did cry and felt upset that he lied to me but I will never talk to anyone online again unless I know who they are."

 A SPOKESMAN for Dorset Police confirmed the incident had been reported to them and that the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be making contact with the victim to offer words of reassurance and internet safety.

The spokesman also offered the following advice from Get Safe Online:

• Talk regularly with your child about their online lives

• Guide your family – in the same way that you do in other aspects of their day-to-day lives

• Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and rules for your children from a young age

• Try out some of the technologies your child enjoys for yourself

• Speak to friends, family and other parents about their approach to keeping their children safe online. Exchanging experiences can be highly valuable

• Use parental controls on computers, mobile devices and games consoles as well as privacy features on social networking sites and safety options on Google / other search engines. Opt into your ISP’s family filters

• Install reputable parental control software and apps to help ensure age-appropriate online activity and monitor your child’s internet usage

• Stay aware of changes in your child’s behaviour or moods, as it may be a sign that your child is being bullied, harassed or abused online

• Try not to rely purely on technology to keep your child safe online, instead use it to support you in setting the limits and build a dialogue with your child

• Remember that social networking and picture sharing sites have minimum age limits – find out what they are and make sure your child isn’t using age-inappropriate networks and apps

• As your child grows up, make sure they’re aware of the basics of online safety, such as not clicking on links in emails and instant messages, good password practice, not turning off internet security programs / apps and firewalls and not revealing personal information Comprehensive expert, impartial, practical, free advice can be found at www.getsafeonline.org