Police hunt attacker after woman is sexually assaulted in Haslingden (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Police hunt attacker after woman is sexually assaulted in Haslingden

8:54am Monday 20th August 2012 in News

A WOMAN was grabbed by a man and sexually assaulted in a back street in Haslingden.

The 43-year-old victim had been on a night out and was walking along Manchester Road in the early hours yesterday.

She saw a man acting suspiciously and as she turned into a back street near Hope Street and Bank Mill Street, she was grabbed from behind and sexually assaulted. The man fled towards Manchester Road.

The incident took place between 12.30am and 1am yesterday.

The man is described as Asian, around 20 years old, slim build and around 5ft 6inches tall with short black hair and dark clothing.

Inspector Marie Haworth, from Burnley CID, said: “This is a very distressing incident which has left the victim badly shaken. Fortunately she was not seriously hurt.

“I would reassure people that incidents of this nature are rare and we have a team of detectives working to catch the man responsible."

Anyone with any information should call Lancashire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.