A teenage girl with an intellectual disability tried to walk away from a stranger who approached her on a Melbourne street, but he followed and sexually assaulted her.
The 15-year-old was "doing well" after the assault on Chesterville Road in the southeastern suburb of Cheltenham at about midday on June 24, police said on Thursday as they made a public appeal to find the offender.
"The man asked her age and the girl told him that she was 15 years old," Detective Senior Constable Eric Forcey told reporters.
"There was further conversation before the man put his arm around the girl. The girl tried to walk away from the man however he continued to follow her and then sexually assaulted her."
The encounter was captured on CCTV which has been released by investigators.
The man is described as being Caucasian, unshaven and aged between 30 and 40, with short brown hair and facial scarring.
At the time of the assault he wore dark clothing and a baseball cap.
"We are of the opinion the male would've been aware that the girl had an intellectual disability," Sen Const Forcey said.
But he sought to reassure the community.
"There's nothing to suggest this is anything but an isolated incident."
Police believe the man had been at the nearby Pine Street bus stop before the assault and hope other commuters might be able to identify him.
Australian Associated Press
