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Girls assaulted at youth hostel | Girls assaulted at youth hostel |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been arrested after three British schoolgirls were assaulted while they slept at a youth hostel in western France. | A man has been arrested after three British schoolgirls were assaulted while they slept at a youth hostel in western France. |
The teenage girls were staying in the Pinede Youth Hostel in Saint-Brevin-les -Pins as part of a trip organised by Kingsbridge Community College in Devon. | |
French officials said a man obtained a key from a hostel staff member and touched the girls' arms on Sunday. | French officials said a man obtained a key from a hostel staff member and touched the girls' arms on Sunday. |
The school said it was an "extremely distressing" incident. | The school said it was an "extremely distressing" incident. |
The girls were travelling with 50 other pupils and teachers and were staying in a four-berth room in the hostel. | |
The man had touched two of the girls' necks and a hand of the third, before a fourth girl screamed. | |
Psychological observation | |
Roger Pope, the principal at Kingsbridge, said staff from the college and the hostel had reacted immediately. | Roger Pope, the principal at Kingsbridge, said staff from the college and the hostel had reacted immediately. |
"This is an extremely distressing incident and the girls were shocked but thankfully unharmed. | "This is an extremely distressing incident and the girls were shocked but thankfully unharmed. |
"I have spoken to the parents of the girls involved and, in consultation with the students, we have decided they should continue their holiday." | "I have spoken to the parents of the girls involved and, in consultation with the students, we have decided they should continue their holiday." |
The hostel is a few miles from Pleine-Fougeres, where 13-year-old Caroline Dickinson was raped and murdered in 1996. | |
In 2004 Francisco Arce Montes, then 54, a former waiter from northern Spain, was sentenced to 30 years for the murder. | |
John Dickinson, Caroline's father, said from his home in Cornwall that he was not prepared to comment on the incident in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. | |
A 24-year-old French national was arrested on suspicion of sexual aggression and put under examination for sexual assault. He was released on bail after a court appearance, to remain under psychological observation. | |
The Mayor of Kingsbridge, Rufus Gilbert, who is also a governor of the college, said he was "absolutely shocked" at what had happened and said there would be a meeting of governors and staff when the pupils returned. | |
A Devon County Council spokesman said: "As a local education authority we will look at the circumstances with the college and we will learn lessons." |