WATCH: Moment police arrest man over alleged sexual assault of 11-year-old girl
Footage showing the arrest of a man over the alleged sexual assault and abduction of an 11-year-old schoolgirl near Newcastle has been released, as the accused is due to face court.
The 47-year-old man is due to face a NSW court today, accused of kidnapping the young girl as she walked to school and sexually assaulting her over a five-hour ordeal.
The girl was allegedly grabbed from behind on Tuesday morning as she walked to school in Adamstown Heights, threatened with a knife, sexually assaulted and forced into a car.
She was then driven to bushland where she was again sexually assaulted before being released at Kotara Railway station about five hours later, NSW Police said.
The chilling incident has sent “shivers down the spines” of the Adamstown Heights community, police said.
The man’s arrest on Saturday follows a huge four-day search by police.
In the arrest footage, the man can be seen seated in his car while officers question him.
After the ordeal, the girl was taken to John Hunter Hospital for medical examination and later released.
A crime scene was established at Hudson Park and forensically examined.
Detectives from State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and Newcastle City Police District set up Strike Force Bradly to investigate the incident.
After extensive inquiries, police arrested the 47-year-old man during a vehicle stop on Beaumont Street at Hamilton about 12.15pm on Saturday.
He was charged with kidnapping, six counts of aggravated sexual assault, and four counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Detective Superintendent Brett Greentree said the man was facing “very, very serious” allegations with the attack sending “shivers down the spines” of the Newcastle community and the state.
He praised the local community for its efforts in helping police find the attacker.
The man is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Sunday.
