Student fights off would-be rapist in school yard

A female fifth-form student of a West Demerara secondary school managed to fight off a would-be rapist, even as he brandished a knife at her.

The incident occurred just before 8 am yesterday in the school’s compound. The student was heading up the school’s back step, when her attacker, who had been hiding, pounced on her.

A parent told Stabroek News that the attacker, using the knife as a threat, dragged the girl to some vegetation at the back of the school.

There, she began to struggle with the knife wielding would-be rapist, sustaining cuts to her hands and damaging her spectacles in the process. She however managed to escape.

Another person related that as the girl ran, she screamed for help and persons in the canteen and other sections of the school responded. The assailant made good his escape and the girl was taken for medical attention.

Her attacker is said to be a teenager who had been charged last year with raping a nursery school child and who is known in the community for robbing people. Sources told this newspaper that a 14-year-old girl also came forward yesterday and stated that the same teen had raped her.

Stabroek news was reliably informed that reports about the said teen were made to the police.

Residents in the West Demerara community are calling for action as they say the area remains unsafe as long as the teen continues to roam it.