Year 7 schoolgirl inappropriately touched

Detectives from the North Herts Local Crime Unit are currently investigating an allegation of sexual assault which occurred in Hitchin on Wednesday 12 January.

A year 7 student was walking home from school along the footpath between Cambridge Road and Cooks Way at around 4.10pm, when she was passed by two men aged around 18 years old, who were walking in the opposite direction.

As they passed her, one of the men inappropriately touched her over her clothing. The men did not stop or attempt to engage the victim in conversation and continued on their way.

Police were contacted as soon as the student arrived home and an investigation to trace the offender commenced immediately.

The offender is described as a lighter skinned black man around 5’7” tall and of average build. He had short light brown hair and was wearing a black jacket with an emblem on the chest.

The man that was with him was also a lighter skinned black man, around 5’6” tall and of stocky build. He had short dark dreadlocks with orange tips, that stuck up on his head. He was wearing a black gilet and dark trousers.

Detective Sergeant Zoe Maddison said: “We appreciate that news of this incident will cause understandable concern in the community, but we would like to reassure the public that we always take reports of this nature very seriously and will do all we can to thoroughly investigate.”

“We are keeping the victim and her family updated as our enquiries progress and as a reassurance measure over the coming weeks, we will be carrying out extra high-visibility patrols in the town at the end of the school day.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Assistant Investigator Frances Aylin on Frances.Aylin@herts.police.uk.