A young girl living in the New South Wales’ Central Coast suburb of Narara is being treated for “distressing” injuries at Gosford Hospital after she was attacked on her way to school on Monday morning.
According to KidSpot, at 7:45am, the 12-year-old girl was walking by herself on a path between Reeves and Carrington Streets when a man grabbed her from behind and dragged her into nearby bushland.
WARNING: content of a graphic nature ahead.
The man, believed to be in his mid-twenties, threatened the schoolgirl with a hunting knife, tying her up, before sexually and indecently assaulting her.
The girl managed to escape, making her way to school where she reported the incident.
“Thankfully these matters like this are very, very rare. But speaking as a parent of a 12-year-old (girl) myself, I know the feeling of fear a parent has when this type of matter occurs,” says Brisbane Water LAC Commander Superintendent Daniel Sullivan as reported by the Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate.
“She is currently working with us and the hospital staff, and while she is obviously in a position of distress … she was able to give us a very clear description of the alleged offender.”
“He is a male in his mid-20s (and) 175-180cm tall. He has silvery blonde hair and was wearing very distinctive clothing … a camouflaged jacket, camouflaged pants over blue pants and a camouflaged hat.”
“He also had a very loose face covering that only left his eyes and nose exposed. His eyes were blue.”
While police are working closely with the victim to find her attacker, this incident isn’t the first of its kind to occur on the same (locally infamous) path – in 2003, a 14-year-old girl was violently attacked and dragged into the same bushland.
Not only that, but parents who send their children to neighbouring schools say that they believe the path to be “pretty unsafe”, adding that they wouldn’t let their children walk on that path alone.
If you have any information to pass on to police about this horrific incident, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
