Dog saves girl from sex fiend

A TEENAGE girl who was grabbed by a stranger while out walking her dog was saved from a potential attack by the pet terrier.

The 16-year-old girl was pounced on by the stranger while with her pet Staffordshire Terrier on a pathway close to a primary school in West Pilton.

She was approached by a man who without warning grabbed her by the wrist and told her to "come with me" before trying to pull her down the walkway.

As she struggled her pet dog jumped up on the suspect and frightened him off. The incident happened at 10.30pm on Friday and the girl was said to be unhurt but badly shaken by the encounter.

A sexual motive for the attack has not been ruled out. Officers are now appealing for help in tracing the man.

The teenager was walking on a pathway which runs for a short distance behind St David's RC Primary School between housing estates in Granton Mill and West Pilton.

There are street lights but it would have been dimly lit late at night.

One local resident today said he was not aware of the incident but added that the area was generally very quiet.

He said: "That is quite a dark path but this area is generally very good, it's fairly quiet and there's not really any trouble. It would be quite concerning that something like this happened next to a school but I've not really heard of anything like this happening before."

The man is described as being Afro Caribbean, 5ft 8in, well built with a foreign accent.

A police spokeswoman said the teenager was shocked by her ordeal but unhurt.

She appealed for information on the attacker and added: "This was a frightening situation the teenager found herself in. Although she wasn't hurt she's been left shaken by the ordeal. We would urge anyone with any information to come forward."

Anyone with information on the incident in Pilton should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.