Manhunt underway for man accused of kidnap and rape of 12-year-old girl

Manhunt underway for man accused of kidnap and rape of 12-year-old girl

A NEWCASTLE community is being urged to stay remain in open areas and not walk alone after a horiffic sex attack on an 11-year-old girl earlier this week.

Local police officers have issued letters to residents and reminded them to remain “vigilant” as the hunt continues for a man who abducted and sexually assaulted the schoolgirl in a “horrendous” five-hour ordeal.

Police are throwing every resource at their search for a man who grabbed the girl from behind as she walked to school on Tuesday morning through Hudson Park in the suburb of Adamstown Heights.

The Year 6 student was then threatened with a knife, sexually assaulted and forced into a car — believed to be a red Holden Commodore — and driven to bushland where she was sexually assaulted before being released at Kotara Railway station about five hours later.

The young girl walked 1.5 kilometres on her own before raising the alarm at a home and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for examination.

Officers have been doorknocking in the neighbourhood and distributed pamphlets describing the attacker.

“Until we find this person I’d be more vigilant than ever,” detective superintendent John Kerlatec told reporters in Newcastle on Thursday.

“I’d be sitting down with my children and setting out some ground rules about where they can go and where they can’t go.”

Parents should explain to their children what to do if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable, who they can turn to or run to, and need to be aware of their surroundings, Mr Kerlatec said.

Terrified parents have revealed the shock and fear running through the community.

Irusia Upshone, who has children at Belair Public School, near to where the assault took place, said children and parents have been left shaken.

“We just need them protected,” Ms Upshone told 9 NEWS. “We don’t want it happening anywhere but definitely not in this neighbourhood as well — we thought it was a safe neighbourhood.”

The attacker is described as chubby with short black messy hair and wrinkles on his forehead and around his mouth. He spoke with an Australian accent.

The attacker could also be a smoker, as the young girl described him as smelling of cigarette smoke or body odour.

Brown staining on his bottom row of teeth and cracked lips were also visible despite the fact he was wearing a dark-coloured zipped-up hoodie that covered part of his face.

He wore beige coloured shoes and denim jeans.

Mr Kerlatec said at least 10 investigators have joined Newcastle police in tracking down the attacker but urged the public to also contribute.

“The most valuable resources I imagine that we may need are from the community members who come forward,” he said.

A crime scene was established at Hudson Park next to Belair Public School, with NSW Education department saying students and parents at the school have been reminded about “stranger danger” as well as being offered counselling.

“These messages have also been reinforced among the students of other public schools in the area,” a NSW Education department said in a statement to AAP on Thursday.