Teenage girl sexually assaulted in castle grounds

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after two girls were in the castle grounds at about 2-30pm Friday when a man, who came from the Woone Lane entrance, approached them near to the skate park and made a sexually suggestive comment.

One of the girls ran away while the man grabbed the other girl and sexually assaulted her before she was able to break free.

He then ran off in the direction of Castlegate in Clitheroe town centre.

Det. Insp Neil Marr said: “Both of the girls, despite being physically unhurt, have understandably been left very shaken after this incident.

“Had one of the girls not ran off and the other managed to break free, who knows what would have happened to them.

“We are trying to find the man responsible and so I am appealing to anyone who may have seen a man matching the description of the offender in the area or acting suspicious near to where the incident took place to get in contact with us as soon as possible.”

The man is described as white with a pale complexion, aged between 18 and 19, 5ft 11ins with curly brown hair and of slim build.

His voice was high pitched and he spoke with a local accent.

He was wearing a black hooded top, dark grey tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a black bag.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting log number 732 of October 3.