Detectives investigating rape of 14-year-old girl who said she was dragged into a bush at knifepoint reveal the sexual assault DIDN’T HAPPEN

By Hannah Moore and Joshua Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:22 EDT, 21 October 2018 | Updated: 22:22 EDT, 21 October 2018

A teenage girl who claimed she was pulled into bushland and sexually assaulted after getting off a school bus made a false report, police say. 

The girl, 14, told police she had been grabbed at knife-point off the Pacific Highway by a man aged 30-40 about 3.30pm on Wednesday after she got off the bus in Lake Macquarie, NSW.

She also claimed he had told her: 'If you tell anyone, I'll kill you'.

The claim was backed up by locals, one who told Daily Mail Australia her own daughter heard the attacker verbally threaten the teenage girl after carrying out the shocking sexual attack.

A teenage girl who was dragged into bushes (pictured) and sexually assaulted as she made her way home from school at Windale made a false report, police say

A teenage girl who was dragged into bushes (pictured) and sexually assaulted as she made her way home from school at Windale made a false report, police say

'No one really saw anything. My daughter was with a friend down the corner and she heard the man say something to the girl,' a local said.

'He said to the girl: "If you tell anyone I'll kill you".

'My daughter told me and then when police knocked on my door I told them, and we had to go and make a statement.

'I mentioned it to detectives and they said the girl who was attacked had told them the same thing.'

Officers from the local police station launched an investigation with help from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

Sex Crimes Squad commander Superintendent John Kerlatec told reporters at the time the attack was 'shocking' and the perpetrator was 'brazen'. 

The girl had said she was walking along Yertala Close (pictured here) when she said she was pulled into the bushes at knifepoint and told 'if you tell anyone, I'll kill you'

The girl had said she was walking along Yertala Close (pictured here) when she said she was pulled into the bushes at knifepoint and told 'if you tell anyone, I'll kill you'

'It’s important that we identify this perpetrator and get him off the streets,' he said. 'It’s particularly important for the young victim that she can see justice.

'She’s obviously very traumatised by this incident. I can’t fully describe how it would be, I haven’t walked in her shoes. 

'But I can say she’s exceptionally strong, she’s helping us with our investigation, she’s being supported by her family and her friends.'

On Monday, police announced the sexual assault had not taken place.

'Following extensive investigations, including forensic examinations and speaking with a number of people, detectives have confirmed that the report was false,' a statement from NSW Police said.   

The girl has been spoken to by police and offered support services, and a spokeswoman for NSW Police has confirmed no charges would be laid as a result of the false report.

John Kerlatec (pictured) from the state Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad said at the time the attack was 'shocking', and the perpetrator was 'brazen'

John Kerlatec (pictured) from the state Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad said at the time the attack was 'shocking', and the perpetrator was 'brazen'

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Police say rape of girl, 14, who said she was sexually assaulted at knifepoint didn't happen

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