Police have released an image of a suspect they believe may have been the leader of a gang of five men who allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl.
The girl was too scared to speak of the alleged attack until almost three years after it apparently took place.
But detectives investigating the incident have now released an e-fit image of the alleged ringleader of the attack, which took place in Rayleigh, Essex.
The girl was allegedly attacked when walking home along an alleyway between Bardfield Way and Langham Drive at around 9.30pm on February 24, 2011.
She was assaulted by five men, aged between 25 and 35, and dragged to a nearby field when the assault continued, police said.
Dc Danny Cooper said: "This was a terrifying assault by five men on a girl who was aged 13 at the time. She was traumatised and remained scared of the men until she found the courage to tell her mother what had happened.
"We want to hear from anyone in the area of the Birds Estate who has any information about this incident or from anyone who can identify the man in the e-fit .
"He is described as being white, between 5ft 8 to 9in tall, with thick dark-coloured eyebrows and pronounced jawline and cheek bones. At the time he had spiked gelled hair."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
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