Police hunt man following attack

POLICE want to speak to this man about the attack

POLICE have revealed a CCTV image of a man who may have carried out a traumatic attack on a teenage girl in Lees.

Detectives want to speak to the man in the footage in connection with the incident in which a 16-year-old girl was approached and threatened by an attacker on a bridle path in Lees.

It was about 8.40pm on Wednesday, May 25 when the teenage dog walker was approached on the track just off Wellyhole Street.

The offender, described as an 18 or 19-year-old white male, then threatened the girl before grappling with her down an embankment and removing her jumper.

Patrols were then stepped up after an appeal in the Oldham Chronicle.

It emerged a similar incident had occurred in which a young dog walker was followed on the same popular track.

Police were told of the incident by witnesses who had gone to victim’s aid.

Detective Constable Tim Hegarty, from the Sexual Offences Unit at Oldham, said: “Since this was reported to us we have carried out a thorough investigation, including a previous media appeal, interviewing the victim and witnesses and conducting an exhaustive CCTV trawl.

“We are now extremely keen to speak to the person in the CCTV image and if anyone knows who he is please contact us in complete confidence.

“If you are the person in the CCTV image and are seeing this appeal I would encourage you to call us as soon as possible.”

The offender is described as white, 18 or 19 years old, of slim build, with short or shaven dark hair and wearing a baggy grey hooded jumper and tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 0161 856 9009, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.