Road checks carried out in abduction investigation

Police investigating the abduction and sexual assault of a six-year-old girl last week have carried out a series of road checks in North Tyneside.

More than 60 cars were stopped in the Willington Quay area and police questioned motorists.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier, who is leading the investigation, said that the road checks had helped to eliminate some vehicle sightings and had brought police closer to being able to identify the type of car involved in the abduction.

DCI Napier said: “This operation helped us build up a more accurate picture of the routine traffic, both vehicles and people, in and around the Willington Quay area on a normal Tuesday evening. We’ll be following up a number of enquiries as a result of what people told us last night.

House to house enquiries in the area were also continuing, DCI Napier added, and high visibility area command patrols were continuing in the area.

The youngster was snatched from the bath in her home in North Tyneside last Tuesday. She was discovered naked in an alleyway in Willington Quay a short time later.

The girl described her attacker to police as white, between 5ft 4in and 5ft 8in tall and ‘not skinny’. She also said that he may have had sideburns and was wearing a black coat, black hat and black gloves.

Police said yesterday that they were “keeping an open mind” about the suspect’s age, as the girl’s description based his age on his height.

Police have also pieced together part of the route on which the abductor may have taken the girl. The child helped police with a reconstruction by recognising landmarks in the Wallsend area, including the Kwiksave supermarket in Hadrian Road and the Rose Inn on Church Bank.

They also believe that the route may have included Park Road, Laurel Street, High Street, High Street East and Tynemouth Road, all in the Wallsend area.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0191 214 6555 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

(KMcA)