She bravely spoke about the horrific moment she saw a figure standing in the dark in her room on a BBC crime documentary
The girl spoke to detectives about the terrifying experience on BBC documentary Forensics: The Real CSI(Image: BBC)
An 11-year-old girl from Birmingham has bravely spoken out about a horrific sexual attack in her own bed after a stranger broke into her home.
The young girl, who lived with her mum but had been staying at her dad’s house as usual at the weekend, revealed she had been sexually assaulted by a man with a knife who had covered her mouth and threatened to kill her family if she told anyone.
She bravely spoke about the harrowing experience on the BBC documentary Forensics: The Real CSI, which follows West Midlands Police investigators as they investigate serious crimes in the area.
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The young victim, whose identity was protected on the documentary, said: “Once I woke up I opened my eyes, and I saw like a figure in the dark. There was a man and he was kneeling next to my bed.
“And I felt like really panicked and scared. And then he showed me the knife.
“He was covering my mouth. He said you better not tell anyone or else I will kill your family.”
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Speaking to a police investigator, she elaborated that she thought she was going to be kidnapped and said he had touched her and made her touch him.
“I was really frightened because I didn’t now if I should tell somebody,” she added.
“But this was before he threatened me. He showed me the knife and it looked like it folded…he said you better not tell anyobody or else I will kill your parents and anyone who lives in this household.”
She said he had told her he was sorry a few time before leaving the room.
The young victim woke her dad up during the night saying she had had a nightmare, but later disclosed the attack after returning to her mum’s house.
Chillingly, police speculated in the documentary that the attacker may have targeted the home knowing children were inside as a football goal was set up outside.
The 999 call from her mum was also played on the programme, as she tells police: “She’s told us someone broke into the house last night and has raped her. She’s 11 years old.”
Stephen Jeffries, 35, from Northfield, was jailed for 22 years after DNA evidence identified him.
Jeffries was also further charged with sexually assaulting two other girls, with those offences dating back to between 2005 and 2024.
He was also put on the sexual offender register for life and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice.
During police interviews he was advised to answer no comment by his solicitor, but did speak to police when he was asked about telling officers after he was cautioned: “I should have died when I tried…I haven’t got a mind anymore.”
He said: “I will no comment to most. It’s just this has got nothing to do with any allegations this is just in me. I should have died.”
Durin the interview he starts hitting his head on the table and repeatedly saying ‘no comment’.
He was described by the judge as being considered a “most dangerous offender” when he was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this month.
Forensics: The Real CSI was filmed in direct co-operation with West Midlands Police and features five significant cases from the region.
This episode is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
If you’ve been affected by reading this and want some support or advice click here Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | West Midlands Police
