DETECTIVES want to speak to this man in connection with a number of ‘terrifying’ sexual assaults on schoolgirls in a Blackburn park.

Police have stepped up patrols in Corporation Park following the attacks which have taken place on four girls ranging in age from 13 to 16.

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Officers say they are treating the incidents as linked and have urged the man or anyone who recognises him to come forward as soon as possible.

In each attack the man has engaged the victim in conversation before sexually assaulting them.

DC Lynne Farnworth said: “These attacks have all been very similar in nature and so we are investigating the possibility that they are all linked. Each incident has been a very frightening for the girls involved.”

The attacks started in August and each took place between 4pm and 7pm, when the teenage victims were walking through or sat in the park.

The first assault happened between 5pm and 6pm on August 6 when a 16-year-old girl was approached by a man who asked her for directions before touching her hand and trying to kiss her.

In a second incident, which happened in September, a 16-year-old girl and her friend were approached by a man who asked them personal questions before trying to kiss the girl who ran away.

The third happened at around 4pm on October 16 when a 15-year-old, who was sat in the park in her school uniform, was approached by a man who asked her questions before trying to shake her hand and then touched her inappropriately.

The latest incident happened at 4.30pm on November 9 when a 13-year-old girl was walking through the park with her two younger brothers.

A man approached her and asked for directions, before grabbing her and trying to kiss her. She then ran away.

The attacker is described as Asian, between 30 and 40-years-old, with green eyes and a small goatee-style beard.

Councillors have condemned the attacks and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

Shear Brow ward councillor Suleman Khonat said: “A number of concerns about what’s happening in Corporation Park have been raised at my ward surgeries.

“I would urge whoever has been carrying out these attacks to hand themselves in because this sort of behaviour is not acceptable. If there is anybody out there who knows who it is then they should call the police straight away.”

Cllr Hussain Akhtar, who also represents the Shear Brow ward, said: “I strongly condemn whoever is doing this and I want to ask the public to help the police catch them. As a council we are working hard to make this park a fun and safe place for families to go and it would be sad for whoever is doing this to ruin it for the majority.”

DC Farnworth added: “We are keen to speak to the man pictured and so I would appeal to anyone who recognises this man, or indeed the male himself, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Blackburn CID on 01254 353561 or 101, quoting incident reference LC-20151016-0986. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.