UPDATED: A Police investigation is underway after a man exposed himself to three girls in East Cowes.
According to reports, a man approached the young girls on the Esplanade claiming to have lost his dog and asked them to help him find the pet. After enticing the girls into nearby woodland, he indecently exposed his genitalia to them.
Several Police units attended the scene near to the play area shortly before 11:00 this morning and arrested one male, who was taken away for questioning.
UPDATE: Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed that a 50-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence which took place yesterday evening (Friday).
UPDATE THURSDAY 2ND JULY: Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward following last Friday’s incident.
It has been confirmed that three 8-year-old girls were playing in the park on East Cowes Esplanade when a man approached them to help him find his dog. The girls went into a wooded area with the man to look for the dog, when the man exposed himself.
None of the children were hurt in the incident.
No further action has been taken against a 50-year-old man from East Cowes who had been arrested in relation to this incident on suspicion of a sexual offence.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or recognises the description of the man, who is described as white, aged in his 50s or 60s, about 5ft 10″tall with grey/brown curly hair, which was just above his shoulders at the back and just under his ears at the side. He was clean shaven.
The suspect is said to have been wearing light grey shorts that had pockets and were just below knee-length, walking shoes/boots and a green/grey hat, which was described as a ‘fisherman’s hat’, with a rim all the way round.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Isle of Wight investigation team on 101, quoting Operation Portland / 44150217657.