Oldham Sexual Assault
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a man exposed himself to, and sexually assaulted, a woman walking alone in Oldham. The 55-year-old victim was walking near to the Puckersley Inn on Thornham Road, High Crompton at around 8:15am on Sunday 23rd August,when she saw a man stood near to the speed camera sign on the left hand side of the road. As she walked past, he turned to face her and pulled down his shorts to expose himself. She tried to walk quickly away, but he reached out and grabbed her on both arms, trying to pull her towards him. He then pushed the victim away, perhaps having been disturbed by a passing car, and ran off through fields in the direction of Dogford Road. The terrified victim flagged down a passer-by and called the police. The offender is described as white, between 30-35 years old, around 6ft tall, with shortly cropped brown hair, muscly but slim build, a long straight nose and clean shaven. He had a slight tan. He was wearing a navy blue or black short-sleeved polo shirt with a plain collar and horizontal thin white stripes and grey shorts with an elasticated waist. Detective Constable Kelly Bragg said: “It is lucky that the offender was disturbed immediately after grabbing the victim. “It is worrying to think what could have happened had that car not driven past when it did. “That is why it is so important that we catch this man, the offence itself was bad enough, but there is a very real danger that this man could attack again and if that happens the outcome could be far worse. “If you were driving along the road near to the time of the incident, or perhaps saw this man in the area at the time, please contact police and help us protect the public from this dangerous individual.” Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.