Police have released an image of a man they would like to speak to after an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on her way home from school.
Metropolitan Police shared the image after the victim was followed from school to a bus stop at Sussex Ring, in North Finchley, London, at around 4pm on Thursday 30 September.
The suspect attempted to speak to the young girl by asking about the different buses as she was left alone while other passengers boarded services at the stop, located westbound on Sussex Ring, towards Mill Hill or Whetstone.
He then asked her to go to the park, but when she refused, he grabbed her wrists and started to pull her away from the stop and into the park.
The man also told the girl he had a knife, before leading her down towards the canal and behind a tree.
He then grabbed her phone and wrist and kissed her before leaving.
Police described the man as being aged between 30 and 40, with pale white skin, brown eyes and messy shoulder-length hair, wearing blue jeans and black trainers.
Detective Constable Chris Finnegan, from the North West Command Unit based at Wembley, praised the young girl for speaking to police following the attack.
He said: “This was a frightening attack on a young girl who has been tremendously brave in coming forward.
“I stress that sexual assaults of this nature continue to be very rare, but in the cases when it does happen we remain dedicated to supporting victims and identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
“We encourage anyone who is a victim of sexual offences, or who witnesses an offence taking place, to contact police so we can track down the perpetrator.”
Anyone who recognises the man pictured or has information should call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD5239/30SEP21. Or, people can anonymously call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers.uk.org.
https://news.sky.com/story/london-met-police-issue-image-of-man-after-girl-11-taken-from-bus-stop-and-sexually-assaulted-12495380
