A masked ‘fat’ man chased a terrified Reading school boy into a basketball court, according to reports.

The 13-year-old climbed the fence to escape as the man shook the railings and grabbed at the him, ripping his coat in the process, his mother is reported to have said.

Police are investigating the incident in Alphington Road after a second report of suspicious behaviour by a man in the Whitley area chasing youths.

“The boy managed to climb out and run off. He seems to be okay but the parents are now absolutely frightened,” said Katy Janasova, an acquaintance of the boy’s mother who spoke on her behalf due to a language barrier.

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She said that after getting the feeling he was being followed on January 26, the boy walked with a friend most of the way home from school the following day.

After dropping his friend off, he walked towards his house when he noticed a red Ford Escort following him.

The boy turned into the basketball courts on Alphington Road and a hooded 6ft man wearing a black scarf over his face got out of the car and chased him, police were told.

Ms Janasova said the victim climbed the court fence while the man shook the railings and tore a hole in the boys coat with his finger.

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At the time of the incident, Ms Janasova said the boy was “absolutely in bits.”

Thames Valley Police confirmed reports that the man exited his car, chased the boy and shook the railings.

They described him as white, 6ft tall, of fat build, wearing a black and white Adidas tracksuit with a black hoodie with the hood up and a black scarf with a checkered pattern.

Anyone with information about this incident should call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference number 43220038115.