Police today said they were "disturbed and puzzled" after a six-year-old boy was stripped naked by a mystery youth.
The child was playing at an allotment in High Westwood, Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham, when a youth climbed in from open fields and, without saying a word, began to take off the youngster's clothes.
The attacker, thought to be about 14, was distracted by something and fled, police said.
Detective Constable Ian Snowden said: "Exactly what this youth's motives were are, at this stage, a complete mystery but clearly we find the whole incident very disturbing. "We are anxious to trace the teenager responsible. His victim was left shaken and crying."
The six-year-old raised the alarm after the incident which took place between about 4.30pm and 5pm yesterday.
A Durham Police spokesman said today: "Detectives called in to investigate have admitted they are disturbed and puzzled by the circumstances which left the young victim in tears."
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