Witness appeal in rape investigation

The teenage girl was attacked on 28 December

Detectives investigating a sex attack on a teenage girl have appealed for a potential witness to come forward.

Police were called to reports of a serious sexual assault in an alleyway off St Mary's Memorial Gardens, Newark, Nottinghamshire, at about 21:00 GMT on 28 December.

Five teenagers - 14, 16, 16, 16 and 16 - have been arrested on suspicion of rape.

Nottinghamshire Police said it wanted to speak to a man who spoke to the victim while she was sitting on a bench in front of the Boyes store in Appleton Gate at about 20:35 on the same night.

It is believed he also spoke to a group of people who had approached the girl, before he walked off towards Barnby Gate.

Det Insp Stuart Barson said: "We're treating this incident extremely seriously and we are continuing to pursue multiple lines of inquiry, including trawling through CCTV footage and forensics.

"I am keen to stress he is not a suspect, but he may be a witness who has key information which could assist our investigation.

"I am appealing for him to please come forward and speak to us as soon as possible. It's not too late for him to contact us."

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