A man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a park in August last year has been jailed for 14 years.

Naresh Kumar, 50, saw the girl in Addison Howard Park in Kempston on 26 August when he intercepted her and took her into a nearby obscured area and sexually assaulted her.

A couple walking their dog saw something was happening and shone a torch towards them which caused Kumar to let go of the girl and she was able to run to them for help.

Following extensive enquiries involving CCTV and phone work, he was identified and arrested, and an investigation was launched by Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People team (PVP).

Kumar, of Manor Close Kempston, was found guilty of six different sexual offences and was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday (21 March) to 14 years. He will also be subject to a deportation order after his sentence is served.

In a victim impact statement, the victim said: “I’d like to thank the police for their determination to bring this man to trial. It has given me faith in moving forward with my life, and he is no longer able to harm anyone the way he harmed me.”

Detective Inspector Rachael Foy from Bedfordshire Police’s PVP team said: “This has been a very distressing time for the victim and so I commend her for her bravery and strength in giving her evidence in court and ensuring that this predator is punished for his actions.

“Women and girls deserve to be, and feel, safe when they are out in public places, and we will always pursue justice against those who threaten that safety.”

Bedfordshire Police has a significant focus on tackling perpetrators of male violence against women and girls and is working with other organisations to support and improve women’s safety across the county.

Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from police and partner agencies, including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (BDAP), as well as support through the criminal investigation process.