by Lynn Cox

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses after a girl was attacked from behind on her way home from school.

Jade Sullivan, 14, was cut in the incident close to the new Strood Academy in Carnation Road on Wednesday.

Police said she has now left hospital after being treated for a "minor" cut in her back.

Her family told the Medway Messenger this week that they believed she had been stabbed.

Police say investigations into the incident are on-going but officers now believe a knife was not used.

They said the attack happened as Jade walked past some shops in Carnation Road. A skinny man wearing dark clothing, believed to be about 18 years old, approached her from behind and is believed to have punched her lower back, causing the cut.

Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley said: "This was an isolated incident in Strood. Fortunately the girl was not seriously injured, but she was kept in hospital overnight as a precaution.

"Officers have now spoken to the teenager who has explained that she felt a sharp pain in her back, but is unable to say what this was caused by.

‘There have been some assumptions that the injury was caused by a knife. That does not appear to be the case, but it is unknown exactly what caused this small cut and this is currently part of our investigation into the incident.

‘This was a busy period of the day, with many people using Carnation Road to collect children from nearby schools. If anyone saw an assault take place or they saw a man running off from the shops at about 3pm they should contact Kent Police immediately on 01634 792323 or call Kent CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."

Emergency services, including Kent Air Ambulance, were called shortly after 3pm and soon the area was swarming with police.

Victim Jade was tended to by paramedics and taken to Medway Maritime Hospital by ambulance.

Jade's mum, 33-year-old Jeannette Sullivan, said: "Jade was walking home from school and felt someone come up behind her and stab her. She was able to make her way home and called me.

"On the way home I kept having thoughts 'what’s happened?' We are shocked - Jade is really shocked and upset."