The man admitted picking up the child from a play area near Dumballs Road. Pictured: Dumballs Road
An autistic man who admitted abducting a four-year-old boy from a city park put a woman through “a mother’s worst nightmare”, a court was told.
Mohammed Esufali, 29, of Lakeside Drive, Cardiff , had picked up the child from the play area by the city’s Dumballs Road by reaching over the fence, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
After being confronted by the child’s mother, he handed over the child and later told police he picked up the child because the child was on his own and he wanted to sit him on a bench until his mother was identified.

"The circumstances of your medical condition contributed"

Esufali, who has Asperger’s syndrome, was sentenced to a 12-month community order when he appeared at court after the judge said he was satisfied there was “no malice” and this was “an exceptionally unusual case”.
Judge Niclas Parry added that Esufali had been assessed by two psychiatrists and said: “The circumstances of your medical condition contributed otherwise you’ve been a man of good character.”
The court heard the defendant’s condition had been diagnosed as a result of the offence.
Esufali had pleaded guilty to abducting the child after playing tag with a group of children in the park on May 7.
The court heard the defendant picked up the boy and walked toward the entrance of the park.
Mohammed Esufali was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting the offence
“The mother noticed this defendant had gone outside the gates of the play area,” Laurence Jones, prosecuting, said.
“To her horror she saw this defendant had picked up her child from the play area by reaching over the fence and was walking away from the play area toward Dumballs Road and the entrance of the park.”
When she called to the boy he did not respond. The mum shouted, “Where are you going?” The court heard the defendant continued to walk.

"She said it was an awful incident and as a result her family feel vulnerable"

Catching up with Esufali she caught her son’s arm and asked the defendant where he was going with her son.
The court heard the defendant replied, “Nowhere” and handed over the child.
Interviewed by the police Esufali told them he was at the park with a child he had been due to tutor.
“On leaving the enclosed area he said he picked up the child because he was on his own,” Mr Jones said.
“He said he wanted to sit him on a bench until his mother was identified.”
In a victim impact statement the mother said the incident changed the way she regards other people’s attitudes to children.
“She said it was an awful incident and as a result her family feel vulnerable,” Mr Jones said.

"An exceptionally unusual case"

Caroline Rees, defending, told the court Esufali had only been diagnosed as a result of the offence.
“Mr Esufali is under the treatment of a psychologist who is helping him adapt to his diagnosis,” she said.
Judge Niclas Parry, sentencing, said: “Due to the stark reality of the world that we live in and the fears generated by that world, this would have been a terrifying experience for the mother.
“It would be a short-lived experience but during that short period it would have amounted to a mother’s worst nightmare.
“You now understand that by your reckless actions you will have caused little short of terror in that mother’s mind.”
That left her feeling guilty though she “has nothing to feel guilty about.”
Judge Parry gave the defendant credit for his guilty plea and credit for “the reality of your situation.”
“You’ve been assessed by two psychiatrists, one for the crown and one for the defence,” he said.
“I’m satisfied there was no malice on your part when you took that action and that makes this an exceptionally unusual case.
“The circumstances of your medical condition contributed otherwise you’ve been a man of good character.”
As well as the community order Judge Parry ordered a 12-month mental health treatment order be undertaken and a five-year order that he not attend his victim’s mosque.