A MOTHER has told how she screamed in terror as her nine-year-old daughter was dragged to her death by a Polish criminal on his way to Southampton.

Zbigniew Huminski was travelling to the city when he raped and strangled young Chloe, who was found dead in the woods shortly after being snatched from a playground close to her home in the French port town of Calais.

The 38-year-old confessed to strangling the school girl 'while drunk' on Wednesday afternoon and French police also revealed she was raped.

The Polish drifter has a long history of criminal violence and had recently been released from prison and banned from entering France, according to police.

He had been on his way to see his sister in Southampton and prosecutors say he was heavily under the influence of alcohol and is currently in custody at Coquelles - at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

Chloe had been playing with a friend after getting back from her dance lesson on Wednesday afternoon when a man “appeared and grabbed her, forcing her to get into a red car”, French prosecutors said.

The little girl's mother, Isabelle Hyart told the press today that she was appalled and disgusted.

She said: “I don't know what he was doing in France. I went upstairs for five minutes to change her little brother and get her sports clothes, as it was a nice day she wanted to play with her friend.

“I left her under the surveillance of the stepfather of her friend. When I came down with my two other kids, he said straight away: 'Someone's taken Chloe.' I went round the building shouting Chloe's name.

“I saw her lying on the ground behind the dustbins. And then this guy, who I didn't see apart from his back, grabbed her, dragged her into the car and left straight away. It was too fast. I screamed: 'Chloe's been taken, Chloe's been taken.'

“I was in panic. The police arrived but it was too late.”

“Chloe was an adorable little girl, always smiling. She loved life.”

Police were alerted at 3.30pm and search teams found Chloe's naked body in the Dubrulle forest 90 minutes later, Huminski's red Seat Toledo with Polish number plates nearby.

Miss Hyart said police told her Chloe has been raped and then strangled to death.

Huminski's previous crimes involved attacking a pensioner and stealing £50 from them in Calais and court papers described him as a chronic alcoholic known for violent burglaries in France and Britain.

Daily Echo: Zbigniew Huminski

His last conviction in France was in April 2010, when he was jailed for six years for aggravated assault.

The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, said the town was in mourning and called for a memorial march on Wednesday evening.

The flags at the town hall are being flown at half mast.