Police think youths will be bragging to mates

Rotorua police have still searching for three youths who attacked a schoolgirl in a Western Heights reserve last week.

They believe the culprits may be bragging to their mates and want to hear from anyone who knows who they are.

The trio chased the 14-year-old girl after she walked past them on a footpath and refused a request for a kiss.

They dragged her about 30m into a children's playground, slashed off her long socks and parts of her skirt and used them to bind, gag and blindfold her.

The youths, thought to be aged 15 to 17, also cut off clumps of the girl's hair and tied her arms to the side railing of a swing. They ran off when they heard a man whistling his dog and the girl managed to free herself.

Detective Lehi Hohaia has appealed for the dog-owner to contact police in the hope he may have seen or heard something.

The attack happened about 5.30pm last Wednesday in the reserve alongside Western Heights Kindergarten.

Officers have described the attack as "very alarming" and sinister.

* People with information can contact Detective Lehi Hohaia on (07) 349-9423 or confidentially on 0800 TIPOFF.