She was tripped over by dog lead attached to man's bike

Dovecote Gardens, Mortlake. Picture: Google Streetview

A nine-year-old girl has suffered a fractured skull after being knocked over by a cyclist who had a dog attached to his bike by a lead.

She was hit by the lead as the man was cycling at speed through a group of children playing football in Dovecote Gardens (Jubilee Gardens) between the Thames Path and Mortlake High Street, SW14 on the evening on Friday, 29 June.

The dog lead struck the victim's legs, knocking her over. The man stopped to remove one of the victim's shoes, which had become stuck in his bike wheel, before cycling off. He returned a short time later and briefly spoke to the victim's mother. She was unable to take his details as she was tending to her daughter and the man again left the scene. The girl was taken to hospital after the incident, where it was found that she had suffered a fractured skull. She has since been discharged from hospital.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged between 50 and 60 years old, with grey hair. He was wearing a light green T-shirt and a khaki green fisherman-style hat.

Officers from the South-West Command Unit would like to appeal to the man to come forward, or for anyone with information to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1996/2 July.

July 5, 2018