Man arrested over alleged child abduction
A Dural man is expected to be charged on Wednesday over the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.
It is alleged the 37-year-old was seen leaving the Thornleigh Skate Park with the pre-teen girl on Tuesday afternoon.
Police arrested the man at 1.15am at a home in Dural.Credit:Karleen Minney
The girl left the park with the man willingly "thinking she was in the care and custody of somebody... she felt safe with", child abuse and sex crimes squad boss Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec said on Wednesday.
"We will allege that once they left in the car and went to a home at Dural, she was sexually assaulted."
The girl, who cannot be identified, met friends at Hornsby Westfield before going to the skate park and was due to meet her parents at the shopping centre when she failed to return, Detective Superintendent Kerlatec said.
"When she wasn't where she was supposed to be, they [her parents] rightfully raised the alarm."
Detectives were mobilised, with CCTV and what Detective Superintendent Kerlatec called "very thorough and extensive investigation" allowed police to track the man and the girl down at a home in nearby Dural around 1am on Wednesday.
Forensic examiners were going over the home and the vehicle, with the man also being subjected to a forensic procedure at Hornsby police station.
The man will face at least four charges on Wednesday with police expecting to lay further charges as the investigation continues, Detective Superintendent Kerlatec said.
The girl was taken to hospital to undergo assessment.
Her parents are "exceptionally distraught", he said.
"We are working closely with the family, the girl is ... being well looked after".
There is no information to suggest that the man had met the girl online prior to the skate park.