Stacey Lawrence sexually assaulted before death

Schoolgirl Stacey Lawrence was sexually assaulted before being strangled to death by her mother's boyfriend, it has been confirmed.

The nine-year-old girl was found dead in Darren Walker's lorry in a lay-by in Northamptonshire on August 29th.

The 40-year-old was later found hanged in woodland nearby.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire police said forensic tests had been completed and proved the schoolgirl had indeed been assaulted.

'The forensic results are back and they did confirm that there was evidence of a sexual assault which is what most people expected, obviously before the little girl died,' he said.

'There is no evidence that she had been raped but there was evidence of a sexual assault.'

Police have released CCTV footage of Mr Walker and Stacey shortly before her death.

It has emerged the nine-year-old was strangled with a similar type of material Mr Walker used to hang himself with.