The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Police arrest teenage boy after alleged sex assault
Youth due in court today after girl, 16, sustains ‘minor injuries’ in Perth
A teenager has been arrested by police following an alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl in Perth.
Dozens of police descended on the city’s North Muirton area at the weekend after residents reported a disturbance involving a group of young people.
A patch of woodland off Gowans Terrace was cordoned off by investigators for several hours.
A spokesman said: “We were called around 9.35pm on Friday to a report of a sexual assault in the Gowans Terrace area of Perth involving a 16-year-old girl.
“She sustained minor injuries but did not require medical treatment.”
He added: “A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident and is due to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday.”
Neighbours said they were stunned by the large number of police who were sent to the scene.
“We were just watching TV when the living room lit up with blue flashing lights,” one resident said.
“There were a few vans on the street and police on bicycles.
“It looked like they were searching for someone. We didn’t have a clue what was going on but it looked really serious.”
Other neighbours reported hearing raised voices, while police were seen running through one house to get to a back garden.
Officers were also seen on Argyll
Road and Iona Court.
Residents said teenagers had been drinking and listening to music in the area earlier in the evening.
“It’s usually a nice, quiet neighbourhood, so it was a big surprise to see all this police activity,” one local said.
“It was really quite scary, especially because no one knew what was going on.
“We were all fearing the worst.” In December, police teamed up with community wardens to clamp down on a spate of antisocial behaviour issues in the area.
It followed complaints from residents who blamed unruly youngsters for littering and abuse.