6 Jan 2013

Naked man assaults girl at Coromandel beach

10:04 pm on 6 January 2013

Police in Coromandel are investigating an assault on a young girl who was confronted by a naked man at Cooks Beach.

Police say the man exposed himself and indecently assaulted the five-year-old girl when she was walking with her seven-year-old cousin along Riverview Road Reserve, a short distance ahead of her family, at about 7.30pm on Saturday.

They say the man was chased off by a member of the public, but managed to escape.

Detective Inspector Chris Page says the man, described as a clean-shaven Pakeha with dark hair who was carrying a red and yellow towel, hasn't been located.

He says the family and children are shaken and specialist child interviewers are trying to obtain more details of the incident from the children.

Mr Page says the man may have fled in a silver hatchback car with slightly tinted windows.

The investigation team will hold a briefing on the incident on Monday morning.