New plea for information after young girl sexually assaulted in Birmingham
Detectives want to identify a woman who drove off with a potential suspect in a van
Last updated 18th Mar 2022
West Midlands Police have issued a fresh plea for information as they investigate a sexual assault on a young girl in Birmingham.
Detectives want to identify a woman who drove off with a potential suspect in a van.
The investigation was launched after a six year old girl was assaulted by a boy - thought to be in his early to mid-teens - in a wooded area of Rowheath Park, Bournville, on the 18th September last year.
In a statement, Police say; A possible suspect was seen getting into a white van which was next to the Heath Road park and being driven by a white woman with dark blonde hair.
The teenager - who is thought to be at least 13 to 14 years-old and also described as white and having similar dark blond hair - was then driven off.
Detective Inspector Neil Hunt, said: “We understand the concerns and impact this awful incident had on the Bournville community. We’re exactly six months on to the date and this has very much remained an ongoing investigation.
“This was clearly very distressing for the young girl and her family and we've spoken to them ahead of bringing memories back by issuing this fresh appeal. Whoever was involved has never come forward and it's important we do all we can to try and find them as age can be no excuse.
"We've spent quite some time trawling CCTV, looking at forensic opportunities and speaking to people in the area. We appreciate the descriptions are still not the clearest but we're very keen to speak to the woman who was parked up in a white van and appeared to collect a teenager.
"He has never been identified and we'd urge him to come and speak to us. If he wasn’t involved we can rule him out and he may have important information.
"The woman in the van may be completely unaware of what happened in the park a short time beforehand and again we'd ask her to talk to us.
The force says there have been no further reports of children being approached in the park since 18th September.
"We’ve continued to monitor the area as part of routine patrols, and will again have officers in the park over the coming days to speak to anyone with concerns or information.
A 16-year-old boy who was arrested at the time, and later bailed, has now been released with no further action."
Anyone with any information is being asked to get in touch with West Midlands Police.