Police plea to trace cyclist after series of South Shields sex attack reports
Detectives are investigating reports that a cyclist has sexually assaulted a number of lone women by slapping them on the buttocks before riding away.
They fear the South Shields incidents are linked to others in which a male rider has made lewd comments to females and invited them to look at indecent images of him on his phone.
Officers says this behaviour “will absolutely not be tolerated” and have issued a CCTV image of a man who could assist with inquiries.
Northumbria Police were first contacted on May 30 by a woman who was approached by a man on a bicycle in Sea Winnings Way.
She said he asked her to look at his phone, revealing a lewd picture, before he rode off.
She described him as tall, of slim build and wearing dark joggers and a dark grey hoodie.
He appeared to be late teens to mid-20s with mousey blonde hair.
A number of similar incidents have been reported to police since, all taking place in the seafront area and commonly between the hours of 6am and 10am.
A force statement said: “This includes reports a male has sexually assaulted some of the females by cycling past and slapping them on the buttocks before cycling away.”
Every woman has given a similar description of the man and all incidents are being treated as linked.
Inspector Denise Easdon, of the Southern Neighbourhood team, said: “No person should ever be touched without their permission, leered at, subjected to viewing indecent images or propositioned in an intimidating manner and officers are doing everything we can to locate the suspect.
“None of the women were injured, however they have understandably been left shaken by what happened.”
She added: “We have carried out and number of enquiries and increased patrols in the seafront area, especially early in the morning when the cyclist is reportedly most active.
“But despite our ongoing efforts, we are sadly yet to trace him.
“We are now appealing to the public for help. We ask anyone who might have any information, however insignificant they might believe it to be, to please come forward.”
Email [email protected], quoting reference 297 30/5/20, or call 101 and quote the same reference.