CCTV Appeal - Attempted Rape in Prestwich
Police have issued a CCTV image of a suspect after a man tried to rape a woman in a subway in Prestwich early on Sunday evening.
The 20-year-old woman was walking under the subway on Bury New Road, which runs under junction 17 of the M60 in Prestwich, shortly after 6pm on Sunday 3 November 2013, when she was approached by a man.
He grabbed the woman, punched her and then sexually assaulted her, before he was disturbed by a passer-by and ran off in the direction of the footbridge over the motorway. The man also stole the woman⿿s large black leather handbag.
After leaving the subway, the woman⿿s attacker walked back down to Bury New Road, past TGI Fridays and the Shell garage and was last seen waiting at the bus stop near to Tesco.
Police officers quickly arrived at the scene and found the young woman with facial injuries.
The man is described as white with facial stubble. He was wearing a beanie hat with stripes around the base and a black shiny bomber jacket. He was between 30 to 40 years of age and of slim build. He was wearing footwear with a white sole and white rim around.
Detective Inspector Damian Simpson from GMP⿿s Serious Sexual Offences Unit said: "Since this shocking attack on Sunday evening, we have been carrying out a significant number of enquiries and have now issued a CCTV still of a suspect. We are keen to hear from anyone that recognises the man from this image.
"Shortly after 6pm on Sunday evening was a busy time at this Prestwich junction, with a number of people out walking their dogs or jogging. I am appealing to any of these people, or to drivers pulling into the Shell petrol station just off the roundabout, to think back if they remember seeing this man.
"He is quite distinctive as he was wearing a beanie hat with stripes around the base and was carrying a large woman⿿s black leather handbag in his hand.
"We do not know if this man actually got onto a bus or not after waiting at the stop near to Tesco, but if you were on the bus and saw him then please let us know.
"This man⿿s young victim continues to try and recover from her ordeal and we are continuing to offer her all the support we can.
"The team of officers investigating this case will not rest until we have identified and caught the man responsible and we also continue to have extra neighbourhood officers patrolling the area to provide reassurance to residents."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigation team directly on 0161 856 1812, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.