SCHOOLGIRL RESCUED BY LOCAL HERO

Jul 29 2007 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

A HAVE-A-GO hero has revealed how he helped rescue a 13-year-old girl who was the victim of an alleged sex attack at a busy North bus station.

Martial arts expert Andrew Newton, 20, said he was alerted to the incident when he heard the youngster’s screams.

He explained: “I was just standing there waiting for a bus when I heard screaming.

“At first I thought it was just people mucking about then I turned and saw this man on top of what was obviously a young girl.”

Andrew claimed: “I ran towards him and dragged him off and then used one of the martial arts moves I learned at my club to restrain him.

“I was taking him to the ground when suddenly several other men joined in and helped me get him down and pin him to the floor.”

After telling the others how to keep him restrained by sitting on his legs and controlling his head, Andrew phoned the police.

The incident happened at the Haymarket bus station, Newcastle, last Saturday at 10pm.

It is believed the girl — who cannot be named for legal reasons — was with her family on a night out and had ran ahead to them towards the bus station.

Andrew — an assistant instructor in the modern mixed-martial art Directional Fighting Method at Newcastle College — said: “If it wasn’t for my martial arts experience I might not have had the confidence to help.

“But it wasn’t just me . . . it was amazing so many others were willing to get involved.

“Nevertheless it was shocking that something like this took place in such a public place with CCTV cameras everywhere.”

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman confirmed they responded to a report that a man had been restrained by members of the public at the station following an alleged attack on a 13-year-old girl.

V A man charged with sexual assault appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody.