Police hunt lorry driver who assaulted schoolgirl in 'shocking' Midlands attack

The girl's screams alerted passers-by and caused the man to drive off

The man was driving a distinctive flat-bed lorry, said police (West Midlands Police)

A lorry driver who punched a schoolgirl in an apparently unmotivated attack is being hunted by police.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, approached the 13-year-old student before punching her in the face and tugging her hair once she had fallen to the floor.

The incident on 3 December in the Black Country is being treated as isolated, West Midlands police said in a press statement.

Detective Sergeant Andy Robinson, from force CID, said the distinctive flat-bed lorry should help to trace the girl's attacker.

"The young girl was not seriously injured but understandably distressed by the incident," he said.

The 13-year-old girl was in Harvest Road in Rowley Regis at around 8.15am when the man approached her (Google Street View)

"The motive for the assault is unclear at this stage.

"It was certainly a shocking attack in broad daylight as the girl was on her way to school."

It is thought the student's screams alerted passers-by, prompting the man to drive off from Harvest Road in Rowley Regis in the direction of a nearby cemetery after the attack at about 8.15pm.

A CCTV image of the lorry has been released in the hope someone might recognise it, said police.

"We urgently need to trace the driver, and I hope that anyone who recognises the vehicle will contact us as soon as possible," said Detective Sergeant Robinson.

The man was described as white, 5ft 10in tall, with short hair and possibly in blue overalls.