AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl was assaulted by a man outside a Co-op store before being taken into a nearby address.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which took place on Monday February 22 at 3.50pm in Blandford Road, Hamworthy.
Officers attended and located the man and the girl, who were known to each other. The girl did not sustain any serious injuries.
A 42-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and he has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
Detective Constable Laura McQueen, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "We are carrying out an investigation into this alleged assault and appropriate safeguarding measures have been put in place in relation to the girl involved.
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"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have been driving in the area and captured anything relevant on dashcam, to please contact us.
"I am particularly keen to speak to a woman who went to intervene in the incident outside the Co-op store in Blandford Road."
Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55210030270, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
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