Police urge parents to be 'extra-vigilant' after girl, 6, is taken from the street and sexually assaulted
TAMESIDE, GREATER MANCHESTER: A girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Droylsden on Wednesday, August 17. Police are looking into the crime and have released a sharper image of a man they are desperately trying to track down.
The six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted while being led to a wooded area near a disused railroad track in the direction of Manchester Road after being kidnapped by a man on Warne Avenue in Droylsden at around 4 pm on Wednesday. Tameside Police have made an appeal for assistance in locating the suspect.
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The young girl was reunited with her family shortly after. The family is currently receiving support from specialist officers, according to police. A male suspect, 35, was arrested on suspicion of abduction and assault but was later released due to a lack of evidence. No further action has been taken against the said man so far. However, detectives have zeroed in on a second suspect who they wish to speak to 'urgently.'
The Caucasian male in question, who is in his 20s, is shown in the most recent police photo wearing black pants, a dark puffer jacket that is also seen slung about his waist in one photo, and dark sneakers with a white rim around the sole. Thursday at Warne Avenue, Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt of Tameside Police said, "What I can say is that he's certainly snatched a youngster and what I would advise to members of the public is that they need to be particularly careful. A child was playing in this area and a chap who was hanging around has taken a child and thankfully within a few minutes we've got her back."
"Parents need to consider the circumstances of what I have mentioned and I would suggest they need to be extra vigilant with their children whilst we progress this as quickly as possible," he continued. "I'm appealing for information in relation to the abduction of a child where the victim was quickly located and is receiving specialist support."
"At (4.20 pm) yesterday we were contacted in relation to a six-year-old child being abducted, this little girl turned [sic] seven very soon," he added. "This incident started on a grassed area between Warne Avenue and Hawthorn Road in Droylsden at around 4 pm. From this green area is a path leading to a football field, and that is between Heron Drive and Brendon Drive. We suspect that the offender walked with the child across this area where we believe he sexually assaulted her."