A mother says she is “disgusted” after police reportedly asked a man accused of strangling and sexually assaulting her 12-year-old daughter to write a letter of apology. Gloucestershire Police say enquiries are ongoing and that a community resolution was discussed with the family, who did not support it.
What Happened
The alleged incident took place on 9 October near the Stroud Canal Path in Ebley, according to the girl’s mother. Her daughter was walking with a friend, who is 12, and the friend’s 11-year-old brother. The mother says the friend phoned her in a panic, saying the girl had been strangled.
The mother says her daughter described a man gripping her by the throat with one hand and touching her breast with the other. The three children ran away and called for help. Officers spoke to the girl and gathered evidence from her within 30 minutes of the call. A man in his 50s later contacted police and was voluntarily interviewed.
Police Response Under Scrutiny
The mother says an officer later phoned her to say the man would be asked to write a letter of apology. She says her daughter has not been heard, and that no witness statement was taken from the friend or the friend’s brother, who were both present. She says her daughter was too frightened to go out for the rest of the weekend.
The mother has complained to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). An IOPC spokesperson said complaints made through its website are passed to the force to record, and the force decides whether the case meets the criteria for referral to the IOPC.
Gloucestershire Police said the investigating officer discussed a possible community resolution with the victim’s parents, and that the family made clear they did not support that outcome. A spokesperson said the views of victims and their parents are always considered during investigations.
Background
Chris Nelson, Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said he takes incidents of violence against women and girls “very seriously”. He said his office has funded more police patrols and CCTV in crime hotspots across the county, including in the Stroud area, and that there is “much more to do” to help victims.
What Happens Next
Enquiries into the case remain ongoing. No charge has been reported. The IOPC complaint will be assessed by the force before any decision on referral.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
