South Manchester Sex Attacks Linked

5 October 2012, 18:41 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police investigating two sex attacks in Withington and Fallowfield say they are linked.

The first incident happened at about 1am on Saturday 14 July 2012, on Mauldeth Road West near to the junction with Ladybarn Lane.

A man sexually assaulted a 20 year old woman, who managed to struggle free and escape.

It is now being linked with another sexual assault at 8.45pm on Thursday 20 September 2012.

This time, a 22-year-old woman was walking along Egerton Road when a man stopped her and asked for directions.

After a brief conversation she walked off, but a little later the same man followed her and sexually assaulted her.

In both cases the offender is described as being an Asian man in his mid 20s, chubby, about 5ft 8in tall and with short shaved hair. On both occasions he was wearing a dark canvass jacket with dark trousers.

A separate investigation is also ongoing in relation to a break-in at a house on Egerton Road, at about 10.50am on Monday 1 October 2012.

A man broke in, picked up a knife from the kitchen and started searching through bedrooms. He ran away when he came across a woman inside.

But police can’t say this investigation is linked to the two sex attacks.

Detective Sergeant Lee Price said: "Specially trained officers have been supporting the victims throughout both investigations, and due to the similar descriptions and nature of the offences, we are linking both of these sexual assaults.

"While we understand that there is concern among members of the community about Monday's incident, there is nothing to suggest that this could in any way have been another sexual offence.

"While keeping an open mind, we are carrying out a thorough separate investigation in relation to this offence."