Award for the sisters who helped catch child molester Kadian Nelson

Two sisters who helped a 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped on her way to school have won a national bravery award.

Zian Fagan, 20, saw Kadian Nelson drag the child into an alley in Mitcham.

Zian called her mother, who called the police. Her sister Ashanti, 11, watched as Nelson put his hands over the girl’s mouth.

The attacker claimed to be the victim’s sister, but she gave Ashanti a look that revealed she was not well.

When the kidnapper tried to leave with the victim, Ashanti followed him and filmed the two with her mobile phone.

When police arrived at the scene, Nelson quickly made his escape.

But that same evening he was discovered by a passerby who recognized him from cell phone photos uploaded to social media.

Nelson, 26, described by a judge as “every child’s worst nightmare” – was sentenced to 20 years in prison for rape, kidnapping and threatening to kill at Kingston Crown Court in August 2021.

For their efforts, the sisters were each awarded £250 by the court. At the Police and Public Bravery Awards ceremony in Sheffield, Ashanti, now 22, won a silver medal and her 14-year-old sister Zian received a certificate from Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes.

Detective Inspector Simon Sherlock, who led the investigation, said: “These girls were absolutely incredible and reacted so quickly when they challenged Nelson. I have not the slightest doubt that they prevented it from going any further.”