A 13-YEAR-OLD boy is reported to have raped a 12-year-old girl in the grounds of a church in Faifley.

Police are investigating the serious sexual assault, which is said to have taken place on either Thursday, March 22 or 29. The alleged crime was not reported until early April.

The incident happened between 3pm and 5pm at St Joseph’s Church, and the Post understands the pair had made their way to Faifley by bus from elsewhere in Clydebank.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman told the Post: “Police enquiries are continuing following a serious sexual assault which was reported to officers on Monday, April 9, 2018.

“The incident took place on either Thursday, March 22 or 29, 2018, in the Faifley area, and our investigation is at an early stage to establish the exact details surrounding this incident.”

The incident was included in a monthly crime report made by a Police Scotland representative at a public meeting of Faifley Community Council on Thursday, April 26.

The officer in attendance revealed the incident took place at St Joseph’s Church in Faifley.

The report detailed that 23 crimes had taken place during a period from late March until late April. A total of 16 crimes were reported during the same time in 2017.

In response to the reported incident at the church, the Scottish Catholic Media office said it was not aware it had taken place and declined to comment further.