Police investigating the sexual assault and abduction of an 11-year-old girl near a Newcastle school have labelled the attack “horrendous”.
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Speaking with reporters on Wednesday morning, NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jacob said the victim was being “strongly supported” by family and health professionals.
“It’s quite a worrying crime committed in broad daylight to a young person, a very brave young girl ... while she was on her way to school,” he said.
“It’s our mission to get this person and remove him from the community as quickly as we possibly can.”
A large scale search was taking place in Adamstown Heights on Wednesday morning, with investigators combing the area for clues.
Police have also established a crime scene at Kotara scout hall, but wouldn’t be drawn on whether they had established a specific connection between that site and the attack.
Detective Chief Inspector Jacob released an updated description of the wanted man - chubby face and hands, wrinkles on the forehead and around his mouth, brown stains on his teeth, dark messy hair and wearing a black and grey hoodie with a distinctive blue panel on the front.
He was last seen driving a red car, believed to be a Holden Commodore sedan.
Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the area to contact police immediately on 1800 333 000.
“Any attack on a young girl ... is horrible,” Detective Chief Inspector Jacob said.
“Let me just say it was a horrible series of attacks on this young lady and I’m very thankful that we have a very brave young woman who’s been able to help up so valuably in our continuing enquiry.”
EARLIER REPORT
AN INVESTIGATION is under way after a girl, 11, was allegedly kidnapped at knifepoint in an Adamstown Heights park and sexually assaulted over five hours on Tuesday.
The girl was attacked while walking through Hudson Park on Terrance Street about 9.15am, police said.
She was approached and threatened by a man armed with a knife. She was sexually assaulted before being forced into a red car.
She was then driven to bushland where she was sexually assaulted again.
The girl was released just before 2.15pm at Kotara train station. She returned home and police were notified.
Police on Tuesday night established a crime scene in bushland beside Belair Public School.
About seven police cars attended the area, and police cordoned off a section of bush between the school and an amenities block at Hudson Park, at the back of Westfield Kotara.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said paramedics had been called to an Adamstown Heights address just before 2.30pm on Tuesday after reports of the alleged sexual assault of a girl.
She was transported to John Hunter Hospital.
Police have appealed for public information to further investigations into the incident.
They are looking for a man described to police as being of a solid/large build, and with brown hair.
Police are urging anyone who was in the Adamstown Heights area or anyone with information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Officers from Newcastle Police District and the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad are investigating the incident.
