Police are investigating following reports that a girl was sexually assaulted on her way to school in Narara.
At about 9:00am, on Monday, May 15, the 12-year-old girl disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by an unknown man while walking to school.
Police were told the girl was walking along a pathway between Reeves and Carrington St at Narara, at about 7:45am, when a man grabbed her from behind, took her into nearby bushland, where she was tied up, and sexually and indecently assaulted.
The girl escaped and made her way to school, where the incident was reported.
She has since been taken to hospital for assessment.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad and Brisbane Water Local Area Command have commenced an investigation.
A crime scene has been established, which is being examined by specialist forensic officers.
Local police are also conducting extensive patrols throughout the area.
Detectives would like to speak with a man who is described as being aged in his mid-20s, 175-180cm tall, with a chubby build, grey/blond hair, and blue eyes.
At the time he was wearing a knitted camouflage shirt, camouflage pants over navy blue pants, and a camouflage hat, with a loose covering over his face that exposed his eyes and nose.
He was also carrying a camouflage bag and in possession of a hunting knife.
Brisbane Water Local Area Command’s Superintendent, Danny Sullivan, addressed the media outside Gosford Police Station on the afternoon following the attack.
Superintendent Sullivan repeated that the offender had been armed with a hunting knife.
He said the pathway that the girl was walking on was a well-known walkway used by school children in the area.
Police were investigating how the girl escaped from the offender, he said.
Members of the public had already come forward with information, but Supt Sullivan did not specify whether or not someone matching the victim’s description of her attacker had been seen in the area.
Supt Sullivan noted the community’s sense of outrage that the attack had occurred.
The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, physical abuse and serious cases of neglect.
Source:
Media release, May 15
NSW Police Media
Media conference, May 15
Danny Sullivan, Brisbane Water Local Area Command
Dilon Luke, journalist