Police are appealing for public assistance following reports a girl was sexually touched after being taken from the backyard of a home on the Mid North Coast yesterday.
About 6.30am (Wednesday 7 August 2019), police were called to a home on Telopea Drive, Taree, after a resident reported a child from the neighbourhood had arrived at the home.
A short time later, the 12-year-old girl was reported missing by her mother.
Police took her home and were told she was grabbed from behind while she was in the backyard of her home in Taree, taken to nearby bushland, and sexually touched by an unknown man, earlier that morning.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and Manning/Great Lakes Police District commenced an investigation.
Crime scenes were established at the Taree home and in bushland on Telopea Drive, which have been examined by specialist forensic officers.
Local patrols have also been conducted in the area.
Detectives would like to speak to a man who they believe can assist with their inquiries.
He is described only as wearing a hooded jumper.
Investigators are also appealing for anyone who was in the area or may have dashcam footage around Mudford Street and Telopea Drive between 5.30am and 6.30am yesterday to contact Taree Police Station on
