Police hunt after woman groped on footpath near primary school

Northumbria Police has launched an investigation following a report of a sex attack on the path which links Mowbray Road and Sea Winnings Way, on Westoe Crown Village and close to its primary school.

A women who was walking along the pathway on Tuesday, September 8 was groped by a man who grabbed her bottom before running away, Police have said.

At this stage, officers say they are not linking the incident to two previous similar reports in South Shields, where women were slapped on their bottoms by an offender as he rode by on a bike in the same area of the town.

Police officers have appealed for anyone with information to get in touch as inquiries continue.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We are investigating a report of sexual assault in South Shields shortly before 5pm on Tuesday.

“It was reported that a woman was walking on the path from Mowbray Road to Westoe Crown Village when she was approached by a man who grabbed her bottom before making off on foot.

“The offender was believed to have been wearing a grey hoodie and grey joggers.”

Anyone with information which could help with the inquiry into Tuesday’s attack is asked to call 101 quoting log 384 090920.

A message from the editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.