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A brave mum has revealed how she fought off a man as he touched her indecently while she also shielded her terrified daughter.
The woman was speaking after the sexual predator pounced twice within minutes on Monday evening in Church Street and Norman Road.
The first attack was reported at 6pm when the man approached a woman and her three-year-old daughter as they walked along the Crab and Winkle line.
He emerged from the darkness, startling the woman and touching her sexually while her daughter looked on in horror.
He continued despite the toddler’s frantic screams as the woman attempted to fight the man off while shielding her daughter’s eyes.
Eventually he fled after the woman threw a can of Red Bull at him and threatened to call the police.
She said: “The man made me jump because he was just stood there in the dark, it was almost like he was waiting for someone.
“I thought he was a teenager at first but when he came up to me his eyes were bloodshot and he stunk of booze.
“He started touching me. I said to him I’ve got my daughter with me but he just said ‘I don’t care’. He was so calm.
“My daughter was screaming ‘Mummy Mummy’. I had one hand fighting him off and one hand on my daughter trying to make sure she didn’t see it.
“I said I was going to call the police and that’s when he turned and ran.
“Now she’s scared of men and she’s woken up in the night terrified.
“His mind must be disturbed for him to do something like that in front of my daughter and I just hope this sick and twisted individual is found.
“We are walking different routes at the moment.”
Forty-five minutes later a man exposed himself to a teenager and her friend in Norman Road.
The girls were returning home from a friend’s house when they walked past the man who began stalking them.
After catching up with one of them he grabbed the girl’s head, pushed her into a hedge and punched her in the side of her face breaking her glasses.
The girl suffered a minor injury.
Detectives believe the incidents are linked and have stepped up patrols, warning people to be vigilant and advising women to keep to main roads.
DC Jamie Weale said: “We believe that the two incidents may be linked and have increased our police patrols in the area.
“In the meantime, we would ask people to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour, no matter how trivial is may seem at the time.
“We advise people, particularly women, to stick to the main routes and thoroughfares. Avoid dark and unlit areas and don’t walk alone at night.”
“His mind must be disturbed for him to do something like that in front of my daughter and I just hope this sick and twisted individual is found" - attack victim
The suspect is described as white, aged in his 30s and bald or balding.
He is between 5ft 7in and 5ft 10in and was wearing black clothes which may have been a tracksuit or dirty jeans.
He had a scarf covering his mouth and face and could have been wearing a fleece hat.
The man had a dirty appearance, smelled of alcohol and spoke with a local southern accent.
Witnesses or anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Det Sgt Martin Glynn on 01227 868 278 quoting reference number ZY/2835/14.
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