An 18-year-old is to appear in court charged with the rape of an 11-year-old girl who he attacked on Friday, November 23 at around 4.30pm in Enfield, north London, as she walked home from school.
She was dragged into nearby Jubilee Park and rapëd in an ordeal that police said could have lasted as long as three hours.
The girl, who was wearing her school uniform returned home at around 8pm and was taken to hospital.
She had to undergo surgery for injuries sustained in the attack.
Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw said it was “a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless schoolgirl”.
She had been making her way home along her usual route, one of Enfield’s busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of the Friday afternoon rush hour when she was grabbed.
Police have appealed for witnesses and Det Insp Ellershaw said: “Given the significant and unaccounted for amount of time between the incident and the victim’s arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or disheveled following her ordeal.
All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence.”
Opemipo Jaji, 18, has been charged with rape and attempted rape and will appear at Enfield Magistrates’ Court later.
Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crime-stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.