Hunt for attacker after 14-year-old schoolgirl dragged into bushland
An urgent manhunt is underway for a predator who assaulted a 14-year-old girl on her way home from school in NSW.
She had just left her bus on the first week back to class when she was dragged into bushland.
She is now helping police find the man who attacked her.
“It is shocking – daylight, on a clear day with lots of people around,” Sex Crimes Squad Det Supt John Kerlatec said. .
“It just demonstrates how brazen this person is.”
At 3.30pm on Wednesday the Year 9 girl got off her bus at Windale, near Newcastle.
She was on her way home when a man armed with a knife jumped out of the bush and sexually assaulted her.
It happened only metres from a main road and near dozens of homes.
A family friend who knows the young victim and said she was shocked by the attack.
“She’s a nice, innocent girl, I wouldn’t dream it on anyone, let alone her,” she said.
Police say the man assaulted the teenager in the scrub for several minutes before he stopped and ran away.
His victim think she saw him get into a silver car in Doongara Close before he drove off.
The man police are looking for is described as being between 30-40 years old, with a heavy build, large belly, nose and lips.
He was wearing a dark hoodie, dark long pants and grey jogging shoes.
The young girl was taken to hospital, but on Thursday she was brave enough to return to the scene to help detectives track down her attacker.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
