Greater Manchester Police are investigating allegations that a child was sexually assaulted by a staff member at a youth club. The worker has been suspended and detectives have made an arrest.
The force was alerted earlier this year when the boy's mother made a complaint. She told the Manchester Evening News she fears her son was being groomed. He told her he had been 'hugged and kissed' and 'told to keep things secret', she added.
Police statement and suspension
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "A man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. Enquiries are ongoing."
Bosses said in a statement: "We are aware of an ongoing police investigation relating to one of our employees and we are cooperating fully with Greater Manchester Police and the local authority. The safety and wellbeing of young people remains our highest priority."
The person in question was suspended as soon as staff were made aware of the allegations, it is understood.
Mother's account
The child's mother added: "[My son] was really happy telling us about everything he had been doing.
"We got home and as we were getting out of the car he said to us that he and a member of staff had a secret. He said he couldn't tell us because it was a secret and he had been told not to tell anyone.
"I told him he was not allowed to keep secrets and that he would have to tell me what it was. When I saw his reaction, I had a gut feeling that something was not right.
"He was still too scared to tell me. After half an hour of asking, I told him if he did not want to tell me out loud, he could write it down.
"When I read what he wrote I started crying my eyes out."
