Witnesses sought after child assaulted by dog walker in Lelant, Cornwall

Officers are asking for help to trace a man in his 60s who allegedly assaulted a 12-year-old boy with a broken elbow while on a dog walk.

The victim, who visibly had his arm in a sling, was walking his dog with his father toward Porthkidney beach in Lelant on Monday 6 July at around 6pm when they came across a man, described as white and in his 60s, walking a black labrador dog.

The dog is said to have been very dominant towards the father and son’s dog causing them to have to intervene.

The victim said the black lab owner was shouting and he and his father were trying to get their dog back. They managed to do this but when they were about to walk away, the man in his 60s is said to have punched the 12-year-old in the shoulder.

The victim had his arm in a sling due to recently breaking his elbow and this would have been visible to the suspect. The man reportedly then hurried away while the boy told his dad what had happened. The victim added his dad tried to stop the man but he had run away with his dog.

We are appealing for any information or CCTV concerning the incident. We would also like to know if anyone else in the local Penzance area has had any similar issues or knows the man. Please call 101 or contact the force website quoting reference number 50260175973.