Chief constable Richard Brunstrom mistakenly named the girl in a report

The girl was named and her address given out in the police chief's regular update to the police authority.

Everyone who has received a copy of the report, including press and authority members, has been asked to destroy it.

The girl is to receive a personal apology and the force is vetting its report checking procedures.

Sex attack victims receive anonymity under the law and media coverage of the court case - in which the girl's attacker was given a long sentence - had not identified her.

We are apologising personally to the victim and to her family Assistant Chief Constable Ian Shannon

But in his regular update to the police authority about various important criminal cases and initiatives in the force's area, Mr Brunstrom mistakenly named the girl, saying she was someone who had serious sexual offences perpetrated against her.

The force's assistant chief constable Ian Shannon issued an apology on Tuesday after the mistake was brought their attention by a journalist.

"We are immediately contacting all press outlets and police authority members to alert them to the mistake, and to request they destroy copies of the report and not to identify the victim," he said.

"We are apologising personally to the victim and to her family.