Man sought following sex assaults on buses, CCTV issued: Didsbury
(M20 - Friday, 11 March, 2011)

Officers investigating a series of sexual assaults on buses in Manchester and south Manchester have released new images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incidents.

Detectives are now also looking at the possibility that the same man has committed up to 20 similar offences dating back to October 2005.

All of the assaults have taken place on buses on the 42/142/143 route along the Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road corridor between Manchester city centre and Didsbury.

In each of the incidents, a man got on the bus on, sat next to a woman and put his coat on his lap or next to her.

He put his hand on her thigh, felt her leg or on one occasion touched a woman's crotch area.

When each of the women have noticed, he has quickly got up and left the bus.

In most of the cases, the women have reported it to the bus driver after he has got off or they have reported it later having returned home.

On one occasion, one woman got up, shouted and immediately told the bus driver what had happened, but the man who assaulted her forced the bus doors open and fled while she was reporting what he had done.

In a recent incident on 24 January 2011, a man sat behind a 26-year-old woman, reached around the seat and touched her breast.

The offender is described as:

• a white male
• aged 50 to 60 years
• 5ft 7in to 6ft tall
• slim build

Officers have previously appealed for information on the assaults, most recently in December 2010, when an image was released to the public.

Detective Inspector Kevin Marriott, based at South Manchester CID, said:

"It is totally unacceptable for young women to be targeted and sexually assaulted whilst travelling on buses which is why we are determined to catch the person responsible.

"I have a team of officers investigating this series of sexual assaults and I'd ask people to take a good look at these images and if you know who this man is, or have seen him, please contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to call officers at South Manchester CID on 0161 856 6151.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police Force: Greater Manchester

Address:
Wilmslow Road
Didsbury
Manchester
Lancashire
M20