Boy with arm in sling assaulted by dog walker near Lelant

Police in west Cornwall are trying to trace a man in his 60s after a 12-year-old boy, his arm in a sling from a recently broken elbow, was allegedly punched during a walk to the beach.

What happened

The boy 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 walking a black labrador. The man is described as white and in his 60s.

The labrador is said to have been very dominant towards the family’s dog, and the father and son had to step in. According to the account given to police, the man was shouting while the pair tried to get their own dog back under control.

They managed to do that. But as they were about to walk away, the man is said to have punched the 12-year-old in the shoulder. The boy’s arm was in a sling due to the recently broken elbow, which the release says would have been visible to the suspect.

The man then hurried off. The boy told his father what had happened, and his father tried to stop him, but he had already run away with his dog.

The appeal

Officers are asking anyone with information or CCTV of the incident to come forward. They would also like to hear from anyone in the Penzance area who has had similar problems with the man, or who recognises him.

Anyone who can help can call 101 or contact the force website, quoting reference number 50260175973.