New appeal for witnesses after girl attacked on way home from Strood school
by Lynn Cox
Police have renewed their
appeal for witnesses after a girl was attacked from behind on her
way home from school.
Jade Sullivan, 14, was
cut in the incident close to the new Strood Academy in Carnation
Road on Wednesday.
Police said she has now
left hospital after being treated for a "minor" cut in her
back.
Her family told the
Medway Messenger this week that they believed she had been
stabbed.
Police say investigations into the
incident are on-going but officers now believe a knife was not
used.
They said the attack happened as
Jade walked past some shops in Carnation Road. A skinny man wearing
dark clothing, believed to be about 18 years old, approached her
from behind and is believed to have punched her lower back, causing
the cut.
Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley
said: "This was an isolated incident in Strood.
Fortunately the girl was not seriously injured, but she was kept in
hospital overnight as a precaution.
"Officers have now spoken to the teenager who
has explained that she felt a sharp pain in her back, but is unable
to say what this was caused by.
‘There have been some assumptions that the
injury was caused by a knife. That does not appear to be the
case, but it is unknown exactly what caused this small cut and this
is currently part of our investigation into the incident.
‘This was a busy period of the day, with many
people using Carnation Road to collect children from nearby
schools. If anyone saw an assault take place or they saw a
man running off from the shops at about 3pm they should contact
Kent Police immediately on 01634 792323 or call Kent CrimeStoppers
anonymously on 0800 555111."
Emergency services, including Kent Air Ambulance, were called
shortly after 3pm and soon the area was swarming with police.
Victim Jade was tended to by paramedics and taken to
Medway Maritime Hospital by ambulance.
Jade's mum, 33-year-old Jeannette Sullivan, said: "Jade was
walking home from school and felt someone come up behind her and
stab her. She was able to make her way home and called me.
"On the way home I kept having thoughts 'what’s happened?' We
are shocked - Jade is really shocked and upset."
Friday, November 27 2009
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