Teenage girl fought off man who tried to drag her into a lane

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man attempted to drag a teenage girl into a lane in Plymouth.

The incident happened on Tuesday 9 July between 9.30pm and 9.45pm on Honicknowle Lane.

A 16-year-old girl was approached by a man just after the A38 flyover bridge at Parkway, near Burrington Way.

It is believed that the man had just got out of a taxi at the bus stop just prior to Burrington Way.

The man attempted to drag the girl into a secluded lane on the opposite side of the road adjacent to Masefield Gardens.

The girl managed to fight off the man and raise the alarm to a female passerby.

The man is described as white, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 7ins tall, aged 20 to 30 years with a skinny build and dark spiked hair at the front. He was wearing a distinctive chequered shirt and dark trousers.

The man ran off in the direction of Romney Close. The girl was uninjured but very distressed.

A 21-year-old man from Plymouth was arrested in connection with this incident and has been released on police bail until 22 August.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time, either on foot or driving, (particularly at the Peverell or Honicknowle end of Honicknowle Lane, close to All Saints School and the YMCA) to come forward.

Anyone who may have seen the girl or the man, or who may have heard anything unusual, is asked to call police on 101 quoting crime reference EL/13/2767 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.