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Cleo Smith search: Distraught mum reveals encounter with toilet ‘sicko’ at Monkey Mia

Ailish DelaneyThe West Australian
VideoForensic police return to the site of Cleo Smith's disappearance.

A distraught mother claims a creepy man was recording children using the toilet in another Mid-West holiday town — just one week before four-year-old Cleo Smith went missing.

The woman said her family was staying at the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort — a four and a half hour drive from the Blowholes camping ground — when her son’s eight-year-old friend revealed a man had filmed him in the bathroom by peering over the top of the toilet stall.

The concerned mother told The West Australian the young boy’s father was standing outside the toilet door at the time, but it “happened without him noticing” and left the child visibly upset.

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She said she had fears the “sicko” could have done the same to other children or even filmed them in the showers, which were located in the toilet block.

The woman said the family had contacted the police, who she said arrived the following day.

It is understood the man left the caravan park prior to police attending.

“The police did nothing, then a week later little Cleo goes missing,” the woman said.

“I feel the public has the right to know.”

The incident was also reported to Crime Stoppers.

A recent comment on Facebook in regards to a man recording children near the area that Cleo Smith went missing
Camera IconA recent comment on Facebook in regards to a man recording children near the area that Cleo Smith went missing Credit: Facebook

The woman’s family was staying at the tourist park the week before little Cleo was believed to have been snatched from her family’s tent at the nearby Quobba Blowholes.

A WA Police spokesperson confirmed the incident that occurred on October 4 had been reported.

“It was reported a young boy believed he saw a mobile phone briefly came over the top of the toilet cubicle he was in,” the spokesperson said.

“Attending police officers spoke to the boy, his family and other campers and staff who were in the area around the time.

“After extensive inquiries by police no further information was obtained. No other incidents of a similar nature have been reported to police or the resort.

“Police proactively increased patrols of the area.”

A bustling tourist hot spot, Monkey Mia attracts thousands of holidaymakers eager to visit the pristine beaches and feed the dolphins.

The picturesque location is easily accessible from the Quobba Blowholes, with travellers able to take Blowholes Road before turning onto North West Coastal Highway until they reach Shark Bay.

The claims come following a newly resurfaced social media post revealing there had been an attempted abduction at the Blowholes campsite were raised more than seven years ago.

A social media post on a local Carnarvon chat page revealed a girl was approached by a “male aged in his late 40s with a beard” and who was driving a “small red car” at the popular coastal campground in July 2014.

The girl’s mother said she reported the incident to police at the time.

Anyone who sees any suspicious behaviour is urged to report is to police on 131 444 or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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