Staffordshire Police has confirmed that a reported incident in which a girl was allegedly given a cookie by a stranger and taken to hospital never took place. The force issued a statement after rumours spread online following a report on Monday, July 6.
Investigation concludes no incident occurred
Officers were called at 11.15pm on Monday after a report that a man had given a young girl a cookie in the Bishop's Wood area. The girl was taken to hospital as a precaution but has since been discharged. Following further enquiries on Tuesday, July 7, police determined that the incident did not happen.
A force spokesperson said: "We know there is lots of information circulating online about an unknown man giving a girl a cookie that made her unwell in Bishop’s Wood. We understand that people are concerned, which is why we’re confirming that this did not happen."
Police address online rumours
The statement added: "After learning of the report, the girl was taken to hospital as a precaution but has since been discharged. Following further enquiries yesterday (Tuesday, July 7), we can confirm that the reported incident did not occur. There is no indication that the girl was approached by an unknown man or given a cookie."
The force emphasised that reports of this nature are always thoroughly investigated and treated seriously. "We’re issuing this update to address local concerns and to keep people updated on the outcome of our investigation," the spokesperson said.
No further action is being taken, and police have thanked the public for their vigilance while urging people to rely on official sources for information.
