Intruder hunted after schoolboy is molested in his own bedroom
POLICE are urgently hunting a suspected paedophile who entered a schoolboy’s bedroom and sexually assaulted him while his family were in another room.
The incident took place in Ickenham, north-west London, just after midnight on Saturday when the man entered a flat through an unlocked front door and crept into the youngster’s room.
He molested the child and fled the scene only when his victim told him he would call the police. The alarm was raised by the boy’s family, who had been in another room and were unaware of what was happening
Police in the area have issued a warning to locals to lock their doors at night, but have stressed that incidents like this are extremely rare. The victim and his family were said to be extremely distressed by the attack and were last night being supported by specially trained officers.
Scotland Yard has issued a CCTV image of a man who was spotted in the area at the time, who they are urgently trying to trace in connection with the incident. One theory being explored is that the attacker was a burglar, who had been scoping out properties in the neighbourhood, and entered the property after finding the front door unlocked.
It is thought he then went into the boy’s bedroom and assaulted the boy in an opportunistic attack rather than having targeted him specifically.
Scott Wilson, 33, a resident, said there had been a lot of problems in the area recently with drug dealers and addicts hanging around late at night.
Another local, who asked not to be named, said there had been a lot of burglaries and thefts in the area, particularly of catalytic converters, but nothing of his nature. He added: “I live with my wife, daughter and mother. My young daughter has been absolutely terrified by this.”
Det Con Claire Field, of the Met Police, said: “This matter has clearly caused a great deal of anguish to the boy’s family. Police are very concerned and we are carrying out an extensive and well-resourced investigation.”