Police hunt Burnley New Year’s Eve sex attacker

Police said the 18-year-old victim was walking up Westgate from the town centre towards the Little Chef roundabout at 8 p.m. on December 31st.

She was walking up a path on the right hand side of the road which runs up towards the underpass when she was approached by a man walking in the opposite direction.

He engaged her in conversation before pushing her to the ground and attacking her in an assault lasting around 20 minutes.

The victim managed to get away from her attacker and ran towards the underpass and Accrington Road. He chased her but the woman escaped and managed to get home where she called police.

Detectives are now hunting the man who is Asian and aged between 18 and 19 with short dark hair and around 5ft. 9in. tall. He was clean shaven and has a distinctive circular scar on the right hand side of his chin.

He is also said to have big eyes and is of slim build. At the time of the attack he was wearing a thick gold necklace, black leather jacket, white T-shirt, light blue jeans and bright red footwear with black laces.

Det. Insp. Simon Cheyte, of Burnley CID, said: “It looks like after the assault he’s going to be walking down Westgate towards the town centre.

“I don’t know if this is somebody who walks down there regularly or works somewhere nearby or was off to visit friends.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472140, 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.