Hunt for man who assaulted teenager – Harpurhey

September 24, 2012, 1:12 pm

Police are hunting a man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl while she was on her mobile phone to her mum.

The victim appears to have been stalked by the attacker for some time before the assault took place in Harpurhey on the evening of Sunday, 16 September 2012.

At about 9.40pm that night the victim was walking along Loddon Walk and called her mum to let her know she was on the way home.

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She walked along the back of a retirement home, past Wadcroft Walk and onto Wembury Street. She became aware at that point that someone was walking behind her and turned to see a man jogging towards her.

While still on the phone she moved to one side to let him by but he just stayed behind her.

The victim crossed Church Lane and walked behind the Manchester Dogs Home charity shop and onto Vernon Street.

She lost sight of him before he appeared again right behind her on Carisbrook Street. He grabbed hold her and sexually assaulted her before the victim managed to swing round and hit him in the face.

The attacker let go of her then and ran off. The victim then ran off and met her mum, who had heard the whole incident over the phone.

The victim was traumatised by the incident and has since been supported by specially trained officers.

The offender was white, about 5ft 8in tall with a slim build, aged in his 20s and was wearing a red hoodie and blue jeans.

Detective Constable Kelly Featherstone, of North Manchester CID, said: “This nasty incident has resulted in two people being deeply traumatised & both the victim and her poor mother who had to hear her daughter being attacked.

“We can only imagine how absolutely helpless she must have felt at that moment.

“Over the last week we have been working tirelessly on this, speaking to local people and piecing together exactly what happened.

“Whenever something like this happens we know the community will quite rightly feel affronted and I want to reassure everyone that we are determind to catch this offender.”

“Anyone with information is asked to call North Manchester CID on 0161 856 3240 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

– If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

– You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or 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. Contact 07919 246 267.