BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie Police are hoping the community can help them find the perpetrator responsible for the shocking sex attack on a 14-year-old girl at Windale.

The girl got off a school bus just after 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon and was walking through her usual shortcut home through scrubland off Yertala Close when she was confronted by a man armed with a knife.

He dragged her into the bushes and sexually assaulted her before running away – it’s believed he left the area in a silver coloured car.

He’s described as being about 30 to 40 years old with a solid build, with a prominent nose and lips. He was wearing a dark hooded jumper, dark long pants and grey joggers.

Superintendent Daniel Sullivan is urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

“We’re calling on our community to come forward and provide any information that they may have. Provide that information through Crime Stoppers. When you ring Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000, your information is completely anonymous – and any information no matter how small, may be able to assist us in this investigation at this stage,” he said.



Police conduct a line search for clues near the scene of the crime. Picture theherald.com.au



Superintendent Daniel Sullivan