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‘Truly shocking attack’: Girl, 13, dragged into Wigan wasteland and raped on way to school

By Kimberly Bond

A 13-year-old girl was dragged into wasteland and raped on her way to school in Wigan yesterday.

Officers were called at around 9.15am following a report that a teenage girl had been raped in a popular dog-walking area of Astley.

A man approached the girl as she walked along the Merlewood Drive area, threatened her and dragged her into an area of nearby wasteland, where he raped her between 7.30am and 8.30am yesterday morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington from GMP’s Wigan division, said: “This is a truly shocking attack, in which a young girl has been targeted on her way to school, leaving her, understandably, absolutely distraught.

A 26-year-old man from Astley was arrested this morning on suspicion of rape. He remains in police custody for questioning.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1891 / 1812 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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