A frightened and frustrated family have spoken out after their 10-year-old daughter was viciously assaulted in bushland near her school in Greenfields.
The girl’s mother Diane Hunter and grandfather Steven Dow described the unprovoked attack which happened after school on October 19.
They said the girl was walking home alone from a friend’s house and cut through a block covered in scrub when a man leapt from behind bushes and punched and kicked her.
She suffered minor injuries including a swollen face and ear and the family said they were relieved she wasn’t more injured, especially after doctors initially suspected a broken jaw.
Ms Hunter said her daughter was traumatised by the ordeal, was quiet and withdrawn after the incident and it was difficult just to get her to smile.
“I was terrified it could've been worse, she could've been disfigured, anything,” Ms Hunter said.
“A week and half ago I had an outgoing, bubbly, loves-to-have-laugh girl, who loved to see her friends.
“Now I have a girl who sleeps in my room every night, has nightmares, can't have people walk up behind her and is terrified of going to the shops because there's too many people.”
Mr Dow said the girl identified the man, who will appear in a Perth court on Friday over other matters and is known in the local community for his erratic behaviour.
“I'm worried about Diane and I'm definitely worried about [his grandaughter] and what concerns me even more is that this guy lives around corner, exactly a K away from her house,” he said.
“Obviously, the man needs help and there should be an emphasis on that as well, I'm not totally down on him because of that, but he needs to be taken off the streets.”
They were also concerned because the man had appeared in an agitated state near the girl's school and were worried about the safety of other students and children in the area.
Mr Dow said if the man was released from custody, they would look at the possibility of taking out restraining orders against him.
“When we were kids we could get out and about and not worry about this kind of stuff and every kid should be able to still do that today without the risk of injury,” he said.
Police said investigations by detectives who specialise in crimes against children were continuing.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
