The night Max got the munchies: Boy aged three goes on a 3am trek in his pyjamas to buy some sweets
By James Tozer
Last updated at 9:21 AM on 08th August 2008
Adventurer: Max McGrath, dressed in pyjamas and oversized shoes, headed off for a sweet hunt... at 3am
There are times when you've got to have sweets and you just can't wait.
So when three-year- old Max McGrath woke up in the middle of the night, he knew exactly where to go - the local supermarket a mile and a half away.
As his parents slept on, oblivious to his mission, Max unlocked the front door and slipped outside.
Wearing his turtle-decorated pyjamas and his older brother's shoes, which were two sizes too big, he padded down the dark streets all the way to Somerfield.
So far, so good, the youngster must have thought.
But, understandably given his age, Max had not quite thought things through.
It was 3am, the store was closed, and he didn't have any money.
So it was that overnight delivery driver James Brown spotted the disappointed child peering through the supermarket's windows and asked him what he was doing there.
'He told me in a very matter-of-fact way that he was going to the shop,' Mr Brown said yesterday. 'He told me his family were at home asleep.'
Max was able to direct his rescuer to his house in Longridge, near Preston, but they could not raise anyone inside - so Mr Brown called the police.
The youngster's parents were woken to find an officer with their boy, and yesterday his mother told of her shock
at what happened.
'He is very adventurous but it's a complete surprise he would do something like this,' said Amy McGrath, a 30-year-old nurse.
'It is terrifying to think what might have happened because he must have crossed several roads. And I didn't hear a thing.'
Max was reunited with his parents at about 4am.
'The door was doubled-locked,' his mother said. 'Max has got the key, unlocked the door and walked out.
'Now I just keep reliving it over and over in my head, thinking about what could have happened to Max. I'm just glad he's safe. Anyone could have found him but I am very grateful that James stopped and brought him home safely to us.'
Mr Brown, 23, from Bolton, said Max had been waving at supermarket staff stacking shelves, but no one noticed him.
'I looked at him and thought, 'That's not right'.
'I had a look around to see if there was anyone there and then I asked him what he was doing, and he said he just wanted to go to the shop.'
Delivery driver James Brown, who spotted Max peering into the window of the Somerfield store a mile-and-a-half from his home
The driver, who was finishing his shift delivering newspapers when he saw Max, added: 'I asked him if he knew where he lived and he said, 'Yeah', so we started walking, but it began raining so I asked him if he wanted to go in the van and he said, 'Yeah'.'
While waiting for police to arrive, Max happily chatted away.
Mr Brown said: 'I asked him whose shoes they were and he was telling me about his brother.
'He was saying he was starting big school soon and he was telling me about turtles because he had his turtle pyjamas on.
'He was fine, but it must have been such a shock for his family when they found out what had happened.
'I have a child about the same age and it is terrifying to think what an adventurous youngster can get up to.'
Miss McGrath, who lives with her partner and their older son, said: 'When we asked him why he went out he said he wanted some sweets. He didn't say what sort, he just said he wanted sweets.'
She is now keeping the door key out of Max's reach.
