By BRIDGET SCOTT AND CASEY NEILL
AN 18-YEAR-OLD girl from Doveton has spoken out following a terrifying attack where she was indecently assaulted along the Dandenong Bike Trail.
The attack occurred on Saturday 6 September around 2.30pm when the girl was walking her dog.
Sarah said she was walking around the trail when a man of Afghan appearance approached her asking for directions.
She said he walked towards her and spoke in another language, but then asked her where something was.
“He spoke in another language, the only thing he said in English was ‘do you know where that is?’,” she said.
“That’s why it startled me, because I didn’t immediately think I was in danger because he came up to me nicely.”
Sarah said she had minor bruises from his fingers, but managed to fight him off and run away.
She did not have her phone with her at the time.
“If I’d had a pocket on me I’d have taken it,” she said.
Senior Constable Griggs from Sexual Offences and Child Investigation Team in Dandenong said police are seeking assistance to help locate a man of Afghan appearance, aged in his late twenties to early thirties. The man was wearing blue jeans, a blue top with a yellow logo and white runners.
Sen Const Griggs said various aspects of the crime made it a serious concern.
“Given it was in broad daylight and a popular walking track,” she said.
She urged both men and women to be vigilant when out, and asked anyone with any information about this incident to come forward or phone Crime Stoppers.
“Any information is a piece to the puzzle,” she said.
“We need public assistance.”
She said it appeared this attack was isolated at this stage and that the man had not approached anyone else.
She said Sarah acted in the best way during, and following the attack.
“She managed to fight him off and get away which is always a positive sign,” she said.
