Search to find attacker who sexually assaulted woman as she stood at South Shields bus stop

Detectives have launched an appeal for information after the incident where a man – unknown to the victim – approached her at a bus stop in Prince Edward Road, on the same side of the road as the Rose & Crown pub.

He made a sexual remark before grabbing her bottom and made off in the direction of the pub on December 14, between 6.50am and 7am.

The victim was uninjured but shaken by the incident and swiftly reported it to Northumbria Police.

The attacker is believed to be 5’9, of slim build and spoke with a local accent.

An investigation was immediately launched with detectives following a number of lines of enquiry in a bid to locate the individual responsible.

Now police have turned to the public and appealed for any information about the identity of the attacker or any witnesses who were driving down the road on the morning in question.

They are also asking anyone with dashcam footage of the area to come forward.

Detective Constable Kelly Sharp, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an incident we are taking seriously and the victim has been able to pass on significant detail regarding her attacker.

“We believe he was 5’9, of slim build and was wearing a parka coat with fur around the hood on the morning in question. He spoke with a local accent.

“We are committed to ensuring the person responsible is identified, arrested and ultimately brought to justice – and I’m now asking anybody who may have information who has yet to come forward to do so as soon as possible.

“Your information, no matter how significant, could prove the key to bringing this person to justice.

“If you were in the area, or driving down that road on the morning in question between 6.50am and 7am, please look at any dashcam footage and get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the force’s website or by calling 101 and quoting log 132 141220.

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