The lead story in Tuesday's STAR was indeed quite disturbing.

According to the story, a 16-year-old boy was arrested after being accused of sexually molesting a seven-year-old girl during a game of 'dolly house'.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of this story is the fact that the girl was said to be outside playing with friends when the boy, it is alleged, asked to join in their game. It is further alleged that he then took her into the house and assaulted her.

One question that such a story begs is where were the child's parents or guardians? We understand that she was playing with friends, but in dangerous times like these, playing children need to be supervised. Gone are the days when parents can stay inside and be assured that their children are outside playing and are safe. Someone should have been watching the children as any adult would find it strange that a 16-year-old boy would want to play with a group of seven-year-olds.

We can only hope that the incident does not fully traumatise this child and that with time, she can heal and move beyond it. As for the alleged attacker, we hope that, if guilty, he is punished with the full force of the law and dealt with in such a way that if he ever comes across a group of children again, he will run rather than think to join them.