A TEENAGE girl whose body was found concealed in a suitcase was sexually assaulted before she was strangled.

The grim circumstances of the death of Terry Edmonds, 17, were revealed by Chief Supt Mark Salisbury, area commander of West Kent Police, as he issued a fresh appeal for information at a press conference.

Miss Edmonds’ body was found hidden in a dark green suitcase near to the entrance of Morrisons Supermarket car park in Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, by a police search team on Saturday.

The teenager, who was living at a hostel in Tunbridge Wells, had been missing since Easter Monday, April 17.

A 26-year-old man from the West Kent area has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

However, Mr Salisbury said police were keeping an open mind and continuing to pursue other lines of inquiry.

Mr Salisbury said: “This is an appalling crime, but it’s an extremely rare situation for a safe environment such as Tunbridge Wells.

“People who live and work in the town will be particularly distressed by this awful event.

“I cannot rule out the fact that the offender may still be at large and I urge people to remain vigilant.”

Mr Salisbury revealed that Miss Edmonds is thought to have boarded a train at Tonbridge station which arrived in Tunbridge Wells at about 6.20pm on Easter Monday.

“We would very much like to hear from anyone who may have seen Terry walking through Tonbridge High Street between 5.30pm and 6pm on Easter Monday, and in the Vale Road area of Tunbridge Wells at 6.20pm,” said Mr Salisbury.

“Also to anyone ho was on that train between those two stops, who may have seen Terry, we need corroborative evidence to say she was on that train.”

He also appealed for members of the public who had spotted anyone acting suspiciously, with or without a suitcase, in the Vale Road and Vale Avenue areas of Tunbridge Wells to call the dedicated incident room.

Police have assigned a specialist family liaison officer to help the family of Miss Edmonds who are said to be “distraught” at her death.

More than 50 officers are now working on the case, and detectives questioning the man in custody are sometime today expected to either charge him, release him without charge or bail him pending further inquiries.

A second man arrested separately on Saturday was released without charge after being eliminated from police inquiries.

If you have any information about the inquiry into the death of Terry Edmonds call the incident room on 01732 379302.