Cops walk back theory 2yo girl was sexually assaulted at Sydney play centre
Police now say they do not think a sexual predator attacked a two-year-old girl at a Penrith play centre, with “no evidence” found that the girl was assaulted.
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Child sex crimes detectives say there is now “no evidence” a two-year-old girl was attacked by a sexual predator at a Sydney play centre and her injuries may have an innocent explanation.
Police on Wednesday said an exhaustive review of the CCTV footage and forensic testing of the Penrith Lollipop’s Playland yielded no evidence the girl was attacked at the play centre on Sunday.
The Daily Telegraph understands the two-year-old is seen on CCTV happily wandering alone into a spot near a storage area and there is no one else seen on video until she is found.
Police raised the alarm on Monday after adults at the scene and medical staff noticed injuries which may have been consistent with sexual assault.
But investigators now believe a cut on the girl may be innocently acquired.
“Investigations by the Child Abuse and Sex crimes Squad are continuing into the relation to a reports a two-year-old was sex assault at a play centre in Penrith on Sunday,‘’ NSW Police said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Following a review of CCTV and forensic examination of the location there is no evidence at this time to confirm initial reports that a sexual assault occurred at the play centre.‘’
Police are still awaiting DNA testing from the girl’s clothing but are confident that her injuries have a plausible explanation not relating to any crime.
The owners of Lollipop’s Penrith have had sleepless nights since the horrific allegations emerged but say they’ve been vindicated by their CCTV and top security measures.
“We’re a tight team and we have all affected by this,” Vanessa Foreman told The Daily Telegraph.
“We just listened to what police had to say, we wanted to get to the bottom of these allegations, and we did everything we could. Police told us they couldn’t have gotten this far without that”
Ms Foreman owns and operates the business with her sister, Jessica McDonald.
She said her small, family run business received an outpouring of support as the news broke on Sunday.
“People have been messaging us, dropping off flowers, calling us - we’re a family business operating for 10 years and nothing like this has ever happened.”
Lollipop’s staff were devastated, not just by the allegations, but by the trolls on social media who accused their staff of negligence even worse.
“It was very disheartening seeing these terrible comments and threats,” she said.
“We are just so pleased we can all move on now.”
Ms Foreman said she hoped her business will be able to rebuild with the centre now emerging from the cloud of suspicion.
Parents who had been at the play centre on Sunday were baffled at the theory the girl had been attacked while in a cramped space effectively within their view.
Regular visitor Naomi Gent said everything seemed normal at her family‘s favourite venue with kids jumping and climbing on the colourful equipment.
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“It was calm, kids were just playing like normal,” Ms Gent said on Wednesday.
“It wasn't a big upset, if it was the whole feeling there would have been different. But staff were calm, there wasn’t a big fuss.”
Then police and paramedics arrived and she realised something was wrong.
News of the suspected crime wouldn‘t filter out until Monday but, when it did, it shocked the city which had just seen infamous child rapist Anthony Sampieri handed life without parole for raping a seven-year-old at a Kogarah dance studio.
Hundreds flocked to social media calling for the death penalty for paedophiles.
Ms Gent had been sceptical of the leading theory that the girl was attacked.
“Other parents told me she was in their view, she wasn't in a storeroom she had crawled under the play centre,” Ms Gent said.
“(The parents) saw her but didn't realise she was sort of stuck in there. She was in view, not hidden.”
Ms Gent said it's common for parents, in a venue filled with fast moving kids and a labyrinth of play equipment, to briefly lose sight of their youngsters.
“(The girl‘s mother) realised she hadn’t seen her daughter for a few minutes and went looking. Quite often people say ’oh where’s my child?’ and they’ve just wandered into a different section or are hiding behind a pole.”
Ms Gent said she felt Lollipop‘s was “very secure” and denounced the social media comments accusing the centre of lax security.
“To assume they just let in some rapist, some person willy-nilly off the street, it‘s wrong,” she said.
“Parents asking ‘how did this happen?’ or saying ’don’t go back your child will be raped’ - please do not say that.”
She also jumped to the defence of the mother as countless trolls accuse her of being inattentive.
“It wasn‘t lax on Lollipop’s end or the parent’s - a child will get out of your sight anywhere,” she said.