Violent thug booted 10-year-old girl in groin and threatened to kill her

A MOTHER has pleaded for help in catching a violent thug who kicked her 10-year-old daughter in the groin then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

The distraught mother – who has asked not to be named – says her child has been left suffering nightmares, pain and worry after the incident outside Leigham Primary School gates.

Police have carried out a number of inquiries as well as a media appeal but say they have had nothing in the way of information from the public about the assault.

Investigators say the young girl was at the school gates in Walkhampton Walk at around 3.25pm on September 19 when she saw a man acting strangely.

Police say they believe the suspect may have been under the influence of drink or drugs.

He walked over to her and without any provocation kicked her with great force in the groin.

As he tried to kick her again she screamed out loud.

Police said he then verbally threatened her, saying 'If you tell anyone, I'll murder you' before he ran off in the direction of local bungalows.

The mother has now urged the public to help catch the thug.

She said she was waiting in her car with her son parked down the road, "to give her some independence", but when the young girl arrived, she appeared unusually quiet.

She said: "We had to go to Asda and I got a tannoy call asking me to the toilets. The staff were wonderful.

"She was in there and couldn't go to the toilet. She couldn't even open the door she was in so much pain. I was so worried what had happened.

"She told me she was kicked and threatened by a man she didn't know. She said she was worried he would hurt her, her brother and me if she said anything.

"She said she'd waited until we'd all got away from the area because she was so afraid.

"She was so distraught."

The 10-year-old was examined by two doctors after the mother contacted police. They found severe bruising consistent with such a brutal kick.

The mother said: "She was chatty and bubbly, she'd talk to anyone, but now she's more reserved.

"She looks older than she is because she's quite tall.

"She even said she was relieved the man hadn't attacked someone younger or smaller."

Since the incident the girl has revealed she has seen the man a second time while in the school grounds.

The mother said: "She was with two friends who all saw the man. He pointed his two fingers at his eyes and then pointed them at her, while she was in the playground.

"It's left her anxious and suffering with nightmares. It's also affecting her little brother. He feels he let her down because he wasn't there to protect her."

The distress of the attack and subsequent sighting has left the mother unable to return to work. She is currently caring for both children while her husband is away.

She said: "I'm off work with stress and don't feel I can go back because I won't be able to protect her.

"Whoever did this needs to be caught. He could do it again to her, or to another little girl. Until he's caught, we're living in fear of what he'll do next."

The suspect is white, with brown hair, about 6ft tall and aged between 15 and 20. He wore a black baseball cap, possibly with an Adidas-style logo on the front, a grey hoody, dark blue jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference EL/12/4214.