A man who sexually harassed a four-year-old girl pretended to be dead to avoid arrest.

The parents of the young girl accused the man of touching their daughter while on a street in east China's Jiangsu province on April 29.

Police arrived at the scene and identified the man as a serial molester who had previously sexually harassed other underage girls.

A child molester was caught touching a four-year-old girl on a street in eastern China's Jiangsu

The girl's father and few onlookers caught the man on the road (pictured) and called the police

According to Peoples Daily Online, the four-year-old girl was walking beside her mother on Guangfu Road in Rugao city at around 6pm on April 29.

The mother saw a man in a black and white checked shirt up close allegedly molesting her daughter.

Nearby shopkeepers heard her shouting and yelling 'Catch him! Catch him!' on the street.

The girl's father, who was standing not too far away, rushed to catch hold of the child molester and pressed him onto the floor.

The man did not escape but was lying on the floor motionlessly and pretending to be dead.

A female onlooker noted that the mother did not notice until later as the girl was walking slightly behind her.

'When the mother turned around, she saw the man touching her daughter and the girl looked scared,' said the onlooker.

Onlooker said the young girl was just standing next to her mother when the man touched her

Local policemen arrived the scene and recognised the man as a repeated child molester

Policemen from Rugao Police Department arrived after receiving a call. They quickly identified the man.

They said the man was a habitual offender who had previously molested young girls. He had been arrested a few times.

The police also said they will look into the incident again for further investigation.

According to Article 44 of China's Public Security Administration Punishments Law, anyone who acts indecently towards a minor under the age of 14, shall be detained for not less than 10 days but not more than 15 days.