Girl, 15, bravely speaks about Bournemouth beach rape in Crimewatch appeal

Stock image: People on Bournemouth beach
PA Wire
Lily Waddell6 September 2021

A teenager who was raped in the sea in front of oblivious beach-goers in Bournemouth has spoken out about her ordeal.

Crimewatch reconstructed the alleged attack which took place at around 4pm on Sunday July 18 in the sea near to the Oceanarium.

Speaking for the first time, the girl told how she was dragged deeper into the sea by her alleged attacker and how she was raped in the sea.

The e-fit of the beach attacker
HANDOUT

She said in a statement on Crimewatch: “My friends and I had a ball we were playing with, just throwing it about. One throw and it landed near next to a man - or a boy. I was like ‘can you give me the ball back ‘ and he was like no. I went closer to him and said ‘Can I have my ball back’ - he gave it to me and I threw it to my friend.

“He started talking to me and touching my arm - at the same time another man was making my friend uncomfortable so she left the sea. I was alone now and the guy started pulling me out into deep water and I couldn’t feel my feet on the sea floor. It was then he started touching me.

“And I was telling him no and to get off me. No one could see what was happening. That’s when he raped me.”

The girl said she can’t face going out and feels “frightened” following the ordeal.

She added: “I was in tears. I told my friend what had happened and I was really hurting so I went to the toilet. Then the guy came up to me again and was asking how to contact me... Since it happened I’ve changed a lot. I can’t face going out and I feel frightened and vulnerable. I am so scared that people will judge me for what has happened. I didn’t ask for this - I tried to stop him but I couldn’t.”

Police named the suspect saying he went by the name “Dabby” and said he was 17 from Birmingham.

He has been described as possibly of Asian descent with tanned skin, around five feet six inches tall and of a thin but muscular build.

Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour, of MCIT, who appeared on the BBC One show, said: “I would repeat our previous plea for anyone who exchanged Snapchat messages with a number of young Asian men who were reported to be approaching female beachgoers on the date of the incident to come forward.

“We are also again issuing an e-fit image of the suspect that has been produced and would urge anyone who recognises him to please contact us. We do have forensic evidence that means we will be able to eliminate anyone who was not involved from our enquiries.”

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