A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for the sexual assault of a 23-year-old Italian tourist in Cairns.
The woman was walking past the boy in the city’s financial district around 10 a.m. Wednesday when he attacked her, police alleged.
“The lady asked the police for help and at that point she was attacked by other minors,” Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said.
Officers arrested the boy and three other people.
A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for sexually assaulting a 23-year-old Italian tourist in Cairns (file photo)
The woman suffered bruises and scratches to her face, but was not taken to hospital.
“As far as I am concerned, the young age of the criminals is abhorrent,” said Inspector Goan.
‘People have the right to go about their business in our community (and) for that to happen would have been a traumatic experience for the young woman. This is a sad accusation that she will learn from her experience in Cairns.”