Girl, 10, drugged and raped

SAN FERNANDO police have launched a manhunt for a man who drugged a ten-year-old girl at a playground, took her to another location, raped her and then returned the unconscious child to the playground.

The girl told police, at around 3.30 pm she was at Elma Cowie’s playground, Farah Street, San Fernando, when a man, whom she knew, offered her a white substance to eat. After she ate the substance, the man took the girl to his car and drove her to a house in Vistabella, where he gave her more of the white substance to eat and told her to strip. The child told police the last thing she remembered was feeling very drowsy. When she awoke, it was night and she was lying in the playground, which by this time was deserted and dark.

The girl made her way to her San Fernando home where she told her parents what had happened. They took her to the San Fernando CID and lodged a report. It was only when the child was medically examined by the District Medical Officer (DMO) at the San Fernando General Hospital was it discovered that she had been sexually assaulted. Police sources told Newsday the child was able to give them a description of the man. Officers believe the child had stopped off to play at the playground before going home. Police are warning parents to accompany and supervise their children whenever they are out in public places. Investiga-tions are continuing.