Police launch hunt for hooded man after girl is 'sexually assaulted'

Police launch urgent hunt for hooded man after young girl is ‘sexually assaulted down public footpath in broad daylight attack’

• Greater Manchester Police have upped patrols around Lees Valley in Oldham

Police have launched an urgent hunt for a hooded man after a young girl was allegedly sexually assaulted.

Greater Manchester Police said that the child was allegedly attacked as she walked down a public footpath near Lees Valley in Oldham in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon.

Officers have increased patrols in the area as they launch an investigation into the incident.

Inspector Katherine Murray said: ‘We’re releasing CCTV images of a man that we would like to speak to in connection with this incident.  

Greater Manchester Police said that the incident occurred around 4.30pm on Saturday 29 April, after officers were called to a report of a girl being assaulted by a man near Lees Valley in Oldham

‘He may be able to help us with our enquiries and I would encourage anyone who thinks they may recognise him to get in touch with police as soon as you’re able to. We understand that the CCTV images are not of the best quality but we’re keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time or were within the vicinity at the time and may have seen him.’ 

Enquiries have established that the victim was walking along a public footpath near Turner Street Lees, when she was approached by an unknown man who assaulted her. 

Detectives have not yet released the age of the girl, but have described her as ‘young.’ 

They said: ‘Enquiries have since established that the victim was walking along a public footpath near Turner Street, Lees, when she was approached by an unknown man who assaulted her. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.’

Oldham’s neighbourhood sergeant Graham Craven has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward 

Speaking about the incident, Oldham’s neighbourhood sergeant, Graham Craven, said: ‘This is a very concerning attack on a young girl and I would like to assure the local community that a team of detectives are working at pace to locate the offender.

‘Whilst specialist officers are supporting the victim, we are continuing to follow up a number of lines of enquiry.

‘You will see our officers out and about on foot conducting highly visible patrols over the next couple of days, making enquires and offering reassurance to the community as we move forward with this investigation.

‘We also want people in the local area to remain vigilant and to report anything they feel is suspicious to us immediately as we will act on any further information we get.’

He urged anyone with information to come forward, saying: ‘If anyone has any information that may help with the investigation, they are asked to call 101 quoting log 2413 of the 29/4/2023.’

Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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