Angmering girl too scared to go out after woman attacks her

Abigail Titchener, ten, was punched on the back of the neck, dragged along a fence and pushed to the ground – all because she was sitting on a swing the woman wanted to use.

The attacker demanded that the youngster move from the swing, in Fletcher’s Field, Angmering – a request which Abigail and her young friends followed.

But the woman went to her car and put the little girl who was accompanying her 
into it.

Moments later, she turned around and returned to Abigail.

She then shouted at the frightened year-six St Margaret’s CE Primary School pupil before beginning a savage attack which ripped Abigail’s clothes and left her in floods of tears.

Now, more than two weeks after the assault, the ten-year-old’s mum Michaela is appealing for help in tracing the woman, whose attack has traumatised her little girl.

Michaela, who lives with her husband Kevin and her five young children at their home in Palmer Road, said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack that left my little girl in tears.

“The woman dragged Abi by her hood across the park and pushed her against the fence. Abi slipped and fell between the fence and the bench.

“Abi’s brother ran home and told me what happened and when I got to her, she was in floods of tears.

“Now she won’t go down to the park or to the shop any more because of the attack.

“She won’t go out unless there’s a few people around. She is just too scared now.

“She even quit her after-school clubs because she would have had to walk home alone, which she doesn’t want to do.”

The attack happened on Wednesday, September 11.

Abigail suffered cuts and bruises which have now healed.

But the psychological trauma is still with her.

Michaela, 32, has reported the incident to Sussex Police. But she said that so far, officers from the force had drawn a blank.

“Abi is a lovely girl. All I want is for her to feel safe again,” added Michaela.

“She doesn’t feel safe knowing that this woman could be out there and could attack her again.

“This woman’s behaviour was shocking. Abi is only a ten-year-old girl.”

Sussex Police have launched a search for the woman, who is believed to be in her late 20s.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “The little girl involved was, understandably, extremely upset by what happened and suffered scratches and reddening to her neck as a result of the incident.”

Michaela described the woman as chubby, wearing a black and white striped top with trousers.

She said the woman got into a blue car and drove away towards The Angmering School and the nearby A259.

Anyone who knows anything about the incident has been asked to contact police by calling 101.