Boy screamed and clung to fence as man tried to grab him: police

A serial offender tried to grab a 10-year-old boy as he screamed and clung to a fence while waiting to be picked up from a western Sydney school, police allege.

Parents were reportedly forced to rescue the boy from the attack, which happened in Colyton yesterday, and hold the man until police arrived, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The boy was not harmed.

A 41-year-old Colyton man, who has not been named, will appear in Penrith court today charged with assault.

He has also been charged with assaulting and trying to rob a 15-year-old boy earlier this week.

The teen contacted police last night after seeing coverage of yesterday's attack.

Parents reportedly said the man, who appeared to be intoxicated, had dropped and collected children at the school in the past, and may have mistaken the 10-year-old boy for one of his own.