Girl, 4, ‘raped by 21-year-old man in Manchester’

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after an alleged attack in Greater Manchester.
The 21-year-old was taken into custody following allegations that he had attacked a four-year-old girl in Manchester.

He was held on suspicion of rape and is in custody where he is being questioned by detectives.

Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Shortly after 4.30am on Monday June 26 police were called to reports of a disturbance in Salford.

‘Officers attended and a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape at a nearby address in connection with the rape of a 4-year-old girl, earlier that morning. He remains in custody for questioning.’

The force added: ‘The girl and her family are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 321 of 26/06/17 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

In a separate incident, yesterday a 16-year-old boy appeared in court accused of raping an eight-year-old girl in a park.

The teenager, dressed in a grey tracksuit, stood in the dock and spoke only to give his name and address, which cannot be reported for legal reasons, during the five-minute hearing at Manchester Youth Court.

Members of the public were not allowed in court and only reporters and lawyers were present along with the defendant’s mother and father, who sat in the public gallery holding hands, as the case was sent to Crown Court for a further hearing in two weeks.

Sabrina Sohota, prosecuting, told the court the allegation is that the youth raped the young girl in Nuthurst Park in the Moston area of Manchester at around 6.55pm on Saturday.

No plea was entered by the defendant, the court heard, and there was no application for bail. Reporting restrictions were not lifted.

Remanding the teenager in custody, District Judge Mark Hadfield told him: ‘This charge is an extremely serious charge. It is going to be committed to be dealt with at Manchester Crown Court, where you will appear next on the 10th of July.’

The defendant smiled and nodded to his parents as he was taken down.