UPSET mum Karen Miles is warning other parents to be on their guard after her son suffered a frightening ordeal in a public toilet in Marlborough.

Her son Harley, 11, was petrified when a stranger repeatedly stuck his hand through a large hole of the damaged cubicle wall at the George Lane loo.

Miss Miles, of Rabley Wood View, has also criticised the Wiltshire Council for not fixing it until this week, despite complaints being made more than a year ago.

The youngster stopped at the loos on his way to school on Thursday. He didn’t know what the man, believed to be in his 40s, was trying to do and told him to stop, but it was only after someone else came in that he felt safe enough to leave.

The St John’s student told his teachers what the man, described as tall with dark hair and wearing a purple shirt, had done. 

“When he went outside he saw the man walk away and he kept looking behind,” Miss Miles, 39, said.

“That’s how Harley could describe who he was – he didn’t know him but he could describe what he was wearing.

“He was really frightened and went straight to the school and told the teacher and they rang me and said they were going to get the police involved.

“The police came out to see me on the Friday. They took the description of the man but said there was nothing they could do because there were no CCTV cameras, but they said they would keep an eye on the place.” 

Miss Miles, who also has two daughters, turned to social media to spread the word and alert parents but was shocked to read that the damaged cubicle wall had been reported to the council more than a year ago.

People also said that complaints had already been made to Wiltshire Council about the toilets being used as a meeting place for men looking for sex.

The housekeeper added: “I think it is absolutely disgusting. If they knew that it was going on they should have been checking it regularly, or put up a warning way before now.

“Harley is a bit worried that the man’s going to come and find him. We’ve tried to reassure him that he won’t and we’ve told him not to use those toilets again.” 

Police are keeping an eye on the area and can be called on 101.

Marlborough Town councillor Stewart Dobson said: “It must have been absolutely awful for the young boy concerned. As soon as I found out I went down on Friday evening and took pictures and got in touch with a Wiltshire Council officer straight away.

"They assured me they took it very seriously and would do something about it and it has now been fixed. The problem had not been reported to Marlborough Town Council before and we will be keeping an eye on it."

A council spokesman added: “We understand this incident was distressing and have been in touch with our partners at police. We have now carried out a permanent repair.”