A man and his dog were severely beaten by residents of Tilston district, Trelawny, following accusations that he tried to lure little kids away by using toys.

Information reaching THE STAR is that last Friday, the man and his dog was chased, held and beaten after it was alleged that two dolls were used to lure a five-year-old girl out of her yard. It is claimed that the accused man was spotted taking her to a section of the community known as 'Mango Bush'.

An alarm was raised and when the man was accosted, he reportedly told the residents that he was taking her there to to pick mangoes.

THE STAR heard that while explaining himself, the man suddenly made a dash and tried to flee the group of residents who gave chase.

The 40-year-old man ran with his dog beside him for a short distance before he was accosted and beaten by the residents who accused him of being a potential paedophile.

broken leg

Iron pipes, sticks and pieces of wood were used to inflict a number of blows on the man who was left to suffer a broken leg and hand along with other injuries.

"... Him si di pickney inna har yard and trick har wid two dolly," one resident, Kevin Patterson, said.

The angry residents also turned their wrath to the man's dog that stuck by his master's side while he was being beaten. Patterson added: "A lucky all di dog lucky cause a bun wi did ago bun him cause him a part a it to." The fortunate canine, however, escaped alive from its portion of the beating.

According to the resident this was the third time in two months that the man has been accused of using toys to lure kids from their homes. They also said that he is known to walk around which a bag of toys that are for sale.

Residents told THE STAR that on the first two occasions, the children were sent home by residents and the man given a stern warning.

About three weeks ago, residents said a six-year-old boy was seen in the company of the man also heading to Mango Bush. In that incident, the boy was seen with a toy truck and a water gun. The youngster later told residents he was promised the toys if he followed the man to Mango Bush.

The Area One police confirmed the incident and told THE STAR they will be looking to speak with the accused man because of the information they have received.

"We have spoken to a number of residents and the information we have is disturbing to say the least," Inspector Marcus Young of the Area One police told THE STAR.