16-year-old girl attacked in Livingston while walking dog

A 16-year-old girl was attacked in Livingstone yesterday as she walked her dog.

The girl was walking along a footpath that runs behind houses at Wester Bankton in the Murieston area of the town at around 6:30pm when she was approached by a man in his late teens.

He then punched the girl to the ground and continued to strike her as she lay there. That left her with serious bruising and swelling to her face and head.

Following the attack the suspect ran off in the direction of Murieston East Road.

Officers are now appealing for information that can assist them in tracing this individual.

He is described as a white male in his late teens, about 5ft 7in tall and of stocky build. He has freckles across his cheeks and nose, dark blue eyes, ginger hair which was short at the back and sides and long and messy on top with a fringe.

He was wearing a grey Adidas hooded tracksuit with blue stripes down the arms and legs, a dark grey round neck T-shirt, and black canvas trainers with white Nike flashes and white soles.

Inspector Adam Smith of Livingston Police Station said: “We are very concerned about this unprovoked assault which has left the young victim extremely shaken and distressed.

“We are committed to finding the person responsible and I would urge anyone who may have witnessed anything, or has any information which can help with our inquiries, to get in touch.”