Police appeal over two Brierfield sexual assaults

A 21-year-old woman was targeted as she travelled on a bus through the town on December 6th.

A man boarded the bus near the Co-op in Colne Road before sitting next to the victim and tried to start a conversation with her.

When the woman tried to move the man touched her leg then forced himself on her, kissing her before getting off the bus near Wavelengths in Leeds Road, Nelson.

This man was described as Asian, of skinny build with short black hair, aged around 23 years old. He was wearing a black coat, black trousers and black footwear.

A second incident saw another 21-year-old woman sexually assaulted by a man on November 7th in Colne Road.

The victim was waiting at the bus stop outside the Co-op when she was approached by a man at 10-25pm.

He tried to engage her in conversation before putting his arms around her then touching her bottom as she got on to the bus. The man was described to police as being Asian, in his late teens to early 20s and of skinny build. He was wearing dark clothing and distinctive dark quilted style jacket with lighter zip.

Detective Constable Steven Acres said: “For both young women, this was a very distressing experience. Given that the circumstances and the descriptions are quite similar, we are investigating the possibility that these two incidents may be linked so I would urge anyone who thinks they have any information that could assist us in tracing the person responsible to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 and quoting log number FG1203066 or FG1203397 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.