A WORRIED parent has demanded police patrols by a popular nature spot after her young daughter witnessed a pervert performing a sex act on himself.

Celia Hamlet, 33, of nearby Rivenhall Estate, was taking her nine-year-old daughter Emily and young friend by Snarebrook's Eagle Pond at 4.30pm yesterday (Thursday).

Mrs Hamlet, who works part time at Snaresbrook Primary School, was shocked to see a twisted man openly pleasuring himself while only across the water from the crown court building.

She said: "There was a man with his jogging bottoms by his ankles masturbating furiously and looking at me and the children.

"It's an escalating problem and that side of the pond has become a no-go zone. Someone is going to get attacked if nothing is done about it.

"Forest School is nearby and they've told me that they have had problems in the past.

"My daughter said that she saw it all and it was horrible having to explain what happened to her friend's parents."

"There was an incident last year when we were blackberry picking and this man came out of the bushes and just started staring at us with a really angry face."

Forest School spokesman George Painter told the Guardian that the lurid behaviour around Eagle Pond had been discussed at staff meetings.

He added: "We are aware that there have been incidents of an inappropriate nature in that area.

"We always advise our pupils that they should go home in pairs, particularly on dark evenings, and if anything untoward should happen they should exit the area and call the police or return to school where there are very well trained staff."

Snaresbrook Safer Neighbourhoods Team are expected to comment on the incident soon.