A man, who touched himself while sat near a young boy on a bus and then sexual assaulted him, is still on the loose – and now police have issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to.
The pervert performed a sex act upon himself before abusing a 13-year-old boy on a bus travelling from Rochdale Bus Station to Middleton at about 11:30am on April 21.
GMP are desperate to catch the man, who submitted the teenager to this ‘distressing’ attack, as he is ‘clearly a danger to other people’.
Police Constable Steve Farnell said: “This young boy was absolutely shocked to see the offender performing a sex act in such close proximity to him.
“But became even more distressed when the offender sat next to him and physically assaulted him with a clear sexual intent.
“No-one, not least someone of such a young age, should ever be subjected to this sort of sexual assault and we need to find this man as clearly he is danger to other people.”
The teen victim was sat on the upper deck of the bus, towards the back, when it left Rochdale Bus Station.
About 15 minutes later, the offender got on and sat near to the young boy before performing a sex act upon himself.
Minutes later, the offender then moved in order to sit closer to the young boy, and then sexually assaulted him.
The offender then left the bus near the Hopwood Hall College area of Middleton.
CCTV: Police need to speak to this man in connection with the sexual assault of a teen boy on a bus from Rochdale to Middleton
Police have now issued a CCTV still of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident and are appealing to anyone who recognises him to come forward.
PC Farnell added: “Most buses and public transport are equipped with CCTV these days so we have been able to issue a quite clear still of the man we wish to speak to in connection with this offence.
“I would ask people to look carefully at this image and urge anyone who has information or who recognises the man in this picture to call us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.
St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault.
Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.
Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.
Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. They can be contacted on 07919 246 267.
Image courtesy of Mikey, with thanks.
