Police urge women in North Yorkshire market town not to walk alone following spate of sexual assaults

A woman was sexually assaulted by a man in Northallerton on Friday, January 22 - the third such attack reported to North Yorkshire Police in recent weeks.

The woman, who is in her early 20s, was standing alone at the Mowbray Road and Turker Lane junction at around 5pm when a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her. He then fled down Turker Lane in the direction of Brompton Road.

A woman also had a bottom slapped by a stranger while she was out jogging in the direction of Brompton Road at a similar time on January 5.

The suspect in both cases is described as 5ft 10ins tall, slim with a pale complexion.

The woman assaulted on January 22, described her attacker as wearing a dark puffer jacket with a hooded top with the hood up. He had dark loose-fitted jogging bottoms on.

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the area at the time or anyone who has a vehicle dash-cam or home CCTV footage at the location.

“I urge women walking in the area alone to be extremely vigilant and be on the lookout for persons acting suspiciously. To maximise safety, walk with someone else if possible and stick to well-lit areas. Also consider having a personal alarm with you and a mobile phone, but please avoid prolonged use of electronic devices to enable you to remain alert to your surroundings.

“Anyone who has immediate concerns for their personal safety should contact police without delay by dialling 999”.

Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12210035159, and ask for Katy Ditchburn.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.