31 Aug 2008

Female tourists assaulted

4:50 pm on 31 August 2008

A fingerprint expert has travelled to Gisborne to assist with an investigation into a sexual assault on two female English tourists.

The women, aged in their late teens, were staying in a campervan on the beach front in Tokomaru Bay when they were assaulted at about 1am on Friday, by a man who had been in a vehicle beside them.

Police say the women, who have been in New Zealand for only about a week, were subjected to a sickening ordeal over a period of two hours.

However, they say the young women intend to continue on their holiday after an examination of their vehicle is finished.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Ford says they have now finished examining the scene and the campervan, and some items have been taken for further testing.

He says the police are speaking to a variety of people in the area who fit the general description given by the victims.