Police are appealing for witnesses after a vulnerable teenager was raped in Chichester by a group of teenage paedophiles. The incident occurred in a field in the vicinity of the Roman wall and stream, close to the A286 Avenue De Chartres, between approximately 7pm to 9.30pm on 19 March.
Following the attack, the 15-year-old victim was able to seek assistance from members of the public and report it to police. She has received support from specialist officers.
Enquiries led to the arrest of six boys from the Chichester area – four aged 16 and two aged 15 – on suspicion of rape.
All the nonces have been released on conditional bail until the end of June, pending further investigation.
Detective Constable Gemma Mulloy said: “This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable victim and we recognise the concern this will cause in the community.
“We swiftly arrested six suspects – some of whom are known to the victim – in connection with the incident, and we are now appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward, as we seek to establish the exact circumstances.
“Were you in the area around that time and did you witness any suspicious activity? Did you capture anything on camera, or have you seen any relevant footage circulating online?
“Contact us online or via 101, quoting crime reference 47250052298.”
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.