Waikato Police say scientific developments played a major part in today's arrest of a man in relation to an indecent attack on a little girl in the Coromandel early last year.
Detective Gavin Hall of the Eastern Waikato Child Protection Team said the attack took place on 05 January 2013 against a five-year-old girl at Cooks Beach.
"The girl had run ahead of her family as they were returning from the beach through the Riverview Reserve. A naked man was described as running out in front of the girl and grabbing her before an indecent assault took place.
"Despite the efforts of attending Police and a number of members of the public in the area at the time, the then unknown offender made off in a silver Japanese sedan and the fact that he remained at large was a matter of concern for us as investigators and to people in the Coromandel."
Mr Hall said though taking some time to reach the point of arrest, detailed investigative work and findings from scientific analysis resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old Hamilton man who will appear in the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday on a charge of an indecent act on a girl under 12 years.
"We don't want to go into the detail of the scientific developments because we don't want to make other offenders forensically aware.
"But what we can say is that we spoke to the family of the victim today and they are relieved that this man has been caught and the matter being brought before the courts will allow it to be finally put to rest."
Mr Hall said Police are pleased this man will now be held to account and that they are able to assure holiday makers heading to the Coromandel that such traumatic events will not be tolerated.
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