Father heard child's screams

A man walks along the walkway behind Nga Iwi Primary School. Photo / Greg Bowker

The father of the serial sex offender's 8-year-old victim yesterday described hearing his 6-year-old scream as she watched her sister being attacked.

Like all the other assaults, the attack occurred in broad daylight - in this case just after 3pm - in the alley behind Nga Iwi Primary School.

The girls' father was sitting at the back of the property where the family were staying temporarily.

"I heard my daughter screaming and she was just saying her sister's name over and over," said the 32-year-old father, an unemployed computer technician.

"I couldn't see her, because it's a blind corner, but I heard rustling so took off."

After searching, the father thought he spied the attacker. He called out, and the man fled.

"I knew it was him then," he said.

The father chased the man along Windrush Close - which adjoins either end of the alleyway - but could not catch him.

"If I had caught him you wouldn't be talking to me now, I would be locked up," he said, shaking his head.

The father said he always told his girls: "If you're ever in trouble, run or scream as loud as you can."

Last night the family of six were moving - as they had always planned - into their new home in Manurewa.

* The attacks

(all between 2pm and 4pm):

September 8: 12-year-old girl dragged along alleyway and assaulted.

October 19: 8-year-old girl pulled to ground and raped in alleyway.

Thursday: 28-year-old mother assaulted while pushing pram along alleyway.

Yesterday: Mother in 20s carrying groceries assaulted in alleyway.

* Police are seeking

Polynesian man aged 18 to 20, about 1.65m and medium build, wearing dark-green hoodie and dark jeans.