Police are appealing for witnesses after a vulnerable 15-year-old girl was raped in a field near the Roman wall and stream, close to the A286 Avenue De Chartres, on the evening of March 19th. The incident occurred between approximately 7 PM and 9:30 PM.
Following the attack, the victim was able to seek assistance from members of the public, who helped her report the incident to the police. She is currently receiving support from specialized officers trained to assist victims of sexual violence.
Investigation Update
In the course of the ongoing investigation, six boys from the Chichester area have been arrested—four aged 16 and two aged 15—on suspicion of rape. All suspects have since been released on conditional bail until the end of June, pending further inquiries.
Detective Constable Gemma Mulloy said: “This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable victim and we recognise the concern this will cause in the community.
“We swiftly arrested six suspects – some of whom are known to the victim – in connection with the incident, and we are now appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward, as we seek to establish the exact circumstances.
“Were you in the area around that time and did you witness any suspicious activity? Did you capture anything on camera, or have you seen any relevant footage circulating online?
“Contact us online or via 101, quoting crime reference 47250052298.”
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.