Police issue appeal after girl, 15, raped in Bournemouth Beach sea

An attacker who raped a 15-year-old girl in the sea at Bournemouth beach told the victim his name was "Dabby", police have said.

The victim had been with friends near the Oceanarium, where thousands of other people were using the beach on one of the hottest days of the year. She had been playing with a ball with friends when it landed in front of the teenage boy.

The boy, who said he was 17 and from Birmingham, pulled the girl deeper into the sea and attacked her at around 4pm on Sunday, July 18.

Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour said the victim remains "distraught and upset" and was "very brave" to have come forward.

Police officers patrol the promenade as people enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth Beach in Dorset. Picture date: Monday September 6, 2021.
Steve Parsons

Anyone who was innocent would be eliminated from the investigation by DNA evidence, Det Insp Seymour added.

In her statement read out on BBC 1's Crimewatch Live, she said: "I was in tears. I told my friend what had happened and I was really hurting so I went to the toilet. Then the guy came up to me again and was asking how to contact me.

"Eventually my friend made him go away and that was the last I saw of him.

"Since it happened I've changed a lot - I can't face going out and I feel frightened and vulnerable.

"I am so scared that people will judge me for what has happened. "I didn't ask for this - I tried to stop him but I couldn't."

Police say the suspect is possibly of Asian descent with tanned skin, around five feet six inches tall and of a thin but muscular build with short dark hair.

He was wearing black or grey swimming shorts at the time of the attack.

Detectives have been working with experts from the National Crime agency as they explore a number of lines of enquiry.

People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth Beach in Dorset. Picture date: Monday September 6, 2021.
Steve Parsons

An e-fit of the suspect has also been released by Dorset Police as they urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour said: “I am continuing to appeal for anyone with information that might assist our enquiries to please come forward and make contact with us.

"Even if it is just a seemingly small bit of information, it might assist us with piecing together the evidence in this case and tracking down the culprit.

“I would repeat our previous plea for anyone who exchanged Snapchat messages with a number of young Asian men who were reported to be approaching female beachgoers on the date of the incident to come forward.

"We are also again issuing an e-fit image of the suspect that has been produced and would urge anyone who recognises him to please contact us.

“We do have forensic evidence that means we will be able to eliminate anyone who was not involved from our enquiries.”