Invercargill detectives are appealing for help in a bid to catch a person who sexually assaulted a young schoolgirl on her way to school. He said the girl seized her chance to run away when the attacker became distracted. The attacker is described as slightly built, wearing a black hoodie, black beanie or cap, black or dark jeans and black shoes. Initially, police in their February 10 press release, as reported by the Otago Daily Times here, only stated they were investigating a "suspicious approach". At the time they did not state a sexual assault had occurred.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 20, 2019 05:37 UTC