Retford: Crimewatch appeal after girl, 13, raped in cemetery

Police have renewed an appeal on Crimewatch Live after a 13-year-old girl was raped in a cemetery.

The girl was threatened with a knife in a graveyard off Babworth Road in Retford, Nottinghamshire, at about 15:30 GMT on 12 December 2019.

The girl's mother told the programme "what happened took that 13-year-old girl away".

Officers have released an image of a person they want to speak to over the attack.

'I blame myself'

The girl was walking home as her mother was too late to offer an after-school pick-up.

Her mother said: "It feels like my fault because I was five minutes late.

"If I was on time she wouldn't have been hurt, I blame myself."

The girl was approached from behind, threatened with the knife and forced off the path into trees.

Memorable date

Her mother added: "I've noticed my daughter is quieter since the incident, she's a strong girl but I know it has affected her.

"When this happened my daughter was just 13, what happened took that 13-year-old girl away."

A £1,000 award for information on the case has also been issued by the Crimestoppers charity.

Det Sgt Neil Allsop, from Nottinghamshire Police, said the force was hoping to hear from witnesses or anyone with information.

"This case may now be over two years old but the date may well stick in people's minds as it coincided with the 2019 General Election," he said.

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