Inquiries into assault continuing

Wairarapa Police are continuing to investigate an alleged sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl in Masterton last Saturday (29 September).

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Hansen, of Wairarapa CIB, said the girl had reportedly been walking alone on Colombo Road, Masterton, about 9.30pm on Saturday, towards Church Street from Te Ore Ore Road, when she was confronted by dark-skinned man in his late teens or early twenties. The man then pushed her to the ground and assaulted her.

Mr Hansen said Police had completed their scene examination and interviews with the girl and other witnesses, but were keen to hear from anyone else who may have been in or around the area at the time.

“We believe her attacker may have been riding a mountain bike either just before or just after the assault, and we want to find this person as quickly as possible. This means we are very interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual in the Colombo Road area around 9.30pm on Saturday.”

Mr Hansen said the incident highlighted that people needed to be careful and take precautions if walking alone. “While there is nothing at this stage to indicate any other assaults following this incident, we urge that lone females in particular take care to keep themselves safe, as we don’t want to see a repeat of this type of attack,” he said.