Hunt for girl's sex attacker continues
POLICE are still searching for a man who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl at a pool last month.
The girl was swimming in one of the pools at a Hoppers Crossing swimming centre in Derrimut Road with a friend and her friend's mother about 2.30pm on April 25.
The girl was in the pool when she was approached by a man who made lewd comments towards her.
Detectives have been told the man followed the girl around different pools at the leisure centre for around an hour.
During this time he touched her inappropriately, made several more lewd comments and sexually assaulted her.
He fled the pool soon after the assault after he was approached by staff.
Sexual Crimes Squad investigators are asking for the public to help identify anyone acting suspiciously who fits the following description.
The man is described as Caucasian, aged between 30 and 40, 170cm tall with short, dark hair which is greying in parts.
He had stubble on his face and was wearing a dark green bomber jacket, with light coloured sleeves.
A FACE image of the man has been released.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Young girl sexually assaulted during an hour-long ordeal at local pool
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl who endured a horror hour-long sexual assault at a local pool was trying to protect her younger friend from the attacker.
Police today said they were sickened by the Anzac Day assault at the Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre in Hoppers Crossing.
The 12-year-old girl was swimming with her eight-year-old friend and her friend's mother when the attack happened about 2.30pm.
Det Sgt Jason Walsh said the man sexually assaulted the girl at least five times during a one-hour period.
"The mum had left the girls for a sort time to go and get some lunch and in that time the girls were approached in the pool by a male, who struck up a bit of a conversation with the 12-year-old," Det Sgt Walsh said.
"The male started making lewd comments towards the girl and started touching her inappropriately.
"The incident escalated somewhat when the offender started touching the 12-year-old girl to the point where it was a very serious sexual assault."
Det Sgt Walsh said when the mother returned the girls told her what had happened and she approached staff at the centre.
The staff attempted to stop the man from leaving the premises, but he fled.
Det Sgt Walsh said the 12-year-old girl was extremely upset by the incident, but praised her actions in protecting her younger friend from the man.
"She was extremely brave and her main concern was for the eight-year-old, in fact she said on a number of times to go away and go into another pool," he said.
He said the girls changed pools as many as three times in an attempt to escape the man but he continued to follow them.
He said there were two lifeguards on duty at the pool but they were unaware of the incident until the younger girl's mother alerted them.
Det Sgt Walsh described the attack as appalling and said it had sickened police.
"It's extremely brazen and concerning for us as police officers," he said.
"The pool where he approached the girls is actually a family pool where parents are in there with their kids and he had no right to be there. He had visited the centre by himself.
"We think it was a calculated attack on this girl."
Det Sgt Walsh said the girl's parents were shattered by the attack on their daughter and the friend's mother was also devastated.
The man is described as Caucasian, aged 30 to 40, about 170cm tall with short, dark hair which was grey in parts.
He had stubble on his face and wore a dark green bomber jacket with light-coloured sleeves.
Detectives are urging any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the assault to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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