Girl, 14, ‘kidnapped off street by man in white van and sexually assaulted’

A 14-year-old was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted in East Sussex after she was followed by a van.

Police received a report from a member of the public that the 14-year-old was being followed by a man in a white van in Gorselands in Bexhill.

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Sussex police say the girl was picked up in a van and taken to a property where she was sexually assaulted[/caption]

At around midnight on Saturday, the girl was reportedly seen to get into the vehicle which drove away.

In the early hours of Sunday, officers are said to have tracked down the suspect vehicle at a property in Withyham Road in Bexhill and arrested a man.

Police say the girl was not at the property but was later located safe at an address known to her.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “It was reported that the victim
was initially picked up in Hastings town centre and taken to a property in Bexhill where she was allegedly sexually assaulted before being driven close to an address she is familiar with.

“Steve Perry, 64, retired, of Rothwell Drive, Solihull, West Midlands, was charged with false imprisonment, kidnapping with intent to commit
a sexual offence and sexual assault.

“He appeared in custody by videolink at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on
Monday where he was further remanded in custody and sent for
trial at Lewes Crown Court with an initial appearance on July 27.”