Police appeal for witnesses after schoolgirl assaulted in Dover

Officers have released a computer-generated image of a man they would like to speak after a 12-year-old girl was assaulted as she walked to school in Dover.

The victim visited a shop in Cherry Tree Avenue with a friend just after 8.10am on 9 October before they made their way along the footpath in Barton Road.

As they walked, she could hear someone shouting behind her and turned around to see a man with two younger boys, who were wearing school uniform ,and a third boy wearing a jacket walking towards her and her friends.

The man shouted at her to pick up a can of soft drink which she had just bought from the shop and had come out of her bag.

The drinks can had rolled down into the river but the man tried pushing the victim down the bank. He then removed his shoes and socks and went down the bank to retrieve the can before throwing it at her.

The can hit the girl in the legs and the man walked off down the alleyway in the direction of Beacon Fields Avenue and the girl made her way to school and told teachers what had happened.

The suspect is described as white, aged in his 30s, of slim build and approximately 5ft 7ins tall. He had a bald head, possibly shaved, with stubble on his face. He was wearing a long-sleeved checked shirt, blue jeans and blue trainers with white stripes.

Anyone who can help identify the suspect or has information about the assault is asked to contact Police Constable Adam Maxfield at Kent Police on 01304 219192 quoting crime reference number ZY/30389/13. Alternatively, you can contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.