An 80-year-old man at the centre of a suspicious incident in Intu Derby shopping centre was "acting with good intentions", police have now said.
Yesterday a mum reported seeing an elderly man walk up and take her 21-month-old boy by the hand.
She had walking through the shopping centre and was outside Boots when the man took hold of her son's hand.
The moment was caught by CCTV and footage was put out as police tried to trace the man.
The man, who has not been named, contacted Derbyshire police this morning to say that he believed it was him in the video.
Officers have now spoken to the man and Detective Chief Inspector Nick Lamb said: "We are very grateful to the response from the public and to the man who contacted us and was later interviewed.
"The gentleman was acting with good intentions, believing that the young boy had become separated from his mother.
"The man was a little confused and thought the child's mother was somebody else, and had tried to do a good deed in reuniting them. We are satisfied he was acting with good intentions and there was no ulterior motive." Watch the CCTV footage here:
The incident has prompted police to issue advice to members of the public about what to do if they spot a child who they believe is alone.
This includes:•Stay still with the child and do not lead them away from where you have found them;•Ask the child where their parents or guardians are, and look around to see if you can spot them;•Consider asking other passers-by if they know where the child's parents might be;•If after a few minutes the parents or guardians have not been located, take the child to the nearest shop and contact a member of staff immediately;•You can also call store security or police on 101.
