PARENTS have been put on alert after a terrified schoolgirl suffered a nightmare sex attack.

The 12-year-old was walking to school along Stanford Drive, Abingdon, when the spotty teenager struck. He dragged her into a clump of trees and indecently assaulted her before she struggled free and raised the alarm.

Parents have been told not to let kids walk to school alone and headteachers in the town have warned pupils of the danger.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the assault at 8.30am on Tuesday. They believe the attacker could be a former pupil at her school.

Headteachers at three schools - John Mason, Fitzharrys and Larkmead - have given pupils warning letters for parents.

Det Con David Evans said the girl was "absolutely petrified" by the incident.

He added: "She thought she was going to die. This is a very serious assault and we are anxious to talk to anyone who was in the area at the time and can help us apprehend this youth."

Phil Bloomfield, headteacher at Fitzharrys School in Northcourt Road, said: "Pupils are now being given letters which warn them not to walk alone to school until this man is caught. "All the heads have also spoken to the children in assembly and a description of the attacker has been issued to staff.

"Fortunately the girl was not badly hurt but she was very shaken by the attack. We don't want to alarm the pupils unnecessarily but we want to warn them about any possible dangers and that is why we have taken the step of writing to parents."

He added that the description of the attacker was being issued to staff at the schools and at Abingdon College.

The attacker, aged 16 to 17, is 5ft 11ins tall and of slim build. He has bushy eyebrows, straight brown, collar-length hair and bad acne.

He was wearing a black Nike jacket with the trademark white tick on the back, black trousers and a white collared sports shirt.

Mums waiting to pick up kids yesterday at John Mason School, in Wootton Road, said they were concerned by the assault.

Brenda Pope, who lives off Audlett Drive, said: "Nobody's safe. It doesn't matter where you live. I always pick my daughter up and I don't think you can trust anybody.

"I think it is a good thing that her school has issued a warning to all the pupils."

Lorna James, of Beverley Close, said she always picked up her 12-year-old son even though her home was close to the school.

"He wants to walk to school but I don't feel it is safe.

"You don't expect this in Abingdon but I am not surprised because of the way today's society is going."

Det Con Evans added: "At that time of the morning there would have been a lot of people about. Someone must have seen something suspicious."

The assault is the second serious sex attack in the town in just over a month. On February 4, a woman was sexually assaulted in Abbey Gardens but managed to struggle free after kicking her attacker in the groin.

Anyone with any information on the latest incident should call Abingdon CID on 01235 776646.

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