Hunt for serial sex attacker continues

The hunt for a serial sex attacker in Mangere continues , despite the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who appeared in Manukau District Court today.

Police and Maori wardens were still patrolling the streets of the South Auckland suburb, as well as processing a large amount of information already collected, Counties-Manukau police communications manager Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said.

The 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged in Manukau Youth Court today with sexual assaulting a 29-year-old woman.

The teenager remained in custody and would appear again on Monday, she said.

The count relates to an incident that happened about 2pm yesterday on a walkway that runs from Cape Rd and behind Nga Iwi Primary School on Mascot Ave, in Mangere.

Police were open-minded about whether they were seeking more suspects possibly linked to other sexual assault incidents in the area.

There was still a strong police presence on the streets, including a mobile police station set up to gather information.

"We've got enhanced community patrols, we've got cops going out and patrolling in the evenings, we've got the Maori wardens walking with school children to school in the morning and home in the evening," Ms Gates-Bowey said.

Police advised people to follow general safety instructions, adding that it was important for adults to accompany young children and for women to walk in groups, rather than alone.

Avoiding the walkway where possible was also recommended.

The first incident happened on September 8, when a 12-year-old girl was grabbed from behind and indecently assaulted.

On Monday last week, an eight-year-old girl was raped by a Maori or Polynesian male while walking home from school with her six-year-old sister, who screamed for help.

Last Thursday, a male grabbed a 28-year-old woman who was pushing her son in a pram. She punched him and he fled.

- NZPA