A MAN has appeared in court for the first time after being charged with attempting to abduct a toddler from its pushchair.

Mohamed Jarboui appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court this morning (Monday), charged with the attempted abduction of a two-year-old girl near Eastrop Park in Basingstoke on Thursday last week.

The 51-year-old Libyan national, stood in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and a blue face mask, shook his head as prosecutor David Fossler read details of the charge to the court.

As previously reported, a parent was walking near to Eastrop Park on Thursday afternoon when a man allegedly tried to snatch the toddler from the pram.

The case was sent to Winchester Crown Court, where the man, who lives on New Street, will appear on March 10.

No plea was entered at this stage, although the court heard that Jarboui denied trying to take the child in police interview.

He has been remanded into custody.