Exmouth attempted murder: boy arrested

16-year-old in custody after 10 year-old girl assaulted

A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, following an attack on a 10-year-old girl in the town on Thusday.

A member of the public found the girl in a distressed state in Marley Road in the Brixington area of the town just after 5pm. She was taken to hospital and she and her family are receiving support from specialist officers, whilst a thorough forensic examination was carried out at the scene.

Superintendent Matt Lawler, policing commander for Exeter, East and Mid Devon said: “The child is receiving the expert medical care and treatment she needs, supported by specialist officers from our Public Protection Unit, and of course her family.

“This is clearly a shocking event given it is so extreme and rare in East Devon, and as you would expect, we are therefore putting significant resources to this investigation. 

“Given the complexity and sensitivity in supporting the child, the full details of what has happened may take a little while to become clear. That said, this a very proactive and thorough ongoing investigation and will involve searches of the scene and local area, house to house and CCTV enquiries, and further detailed forensic work.

“A number of people have been spoken to, but no-one has yet been arrested.

"To help with both the investigation and to provide reassurance there will be more visible policing in the area, and we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Marley Road and the adjacent fields on Thursday afternoon and who may have noticed anything they feel may be relevant.”