Police issue fresh appeal for Colne sex attacker

Police have issued a fresh appeal into a suspected serial sex offender in Pendle after new evidence came to light.

Police are hunting a sex attacker who assaulted a woman in her home in Colne.

The frightening incident happened on Sunday when a man was reported to have entered the victim’s house on Talbot Street via an insecure window.

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At around 4-15am on Sunday morning (October 9th), a man got in to the victim’s house on Talbot Street through an open window and confronted her in her bedroom where she had returned after making herself a drink.

He grabbed her by the face, tried to remove some of her clothes and then subjected her to a serious sexual assault.

DCI Gary Brooks said: “This was an extremely shocking, predatory and sinister attack on a woman who should have been safe in her own home. We continue to have specially trained officers supporting her through this difficult time.

“We need anyone who recognises this man or who has any information that could assist us with our investigation to get in touch with us immediately. We appreciate the help that people have given to us already but now the key thing for us is finding the man pictured.

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“We would like to reassure residents that we have a dedicated team of detectives working on this investigation and we have also stepped up patrols in the area where this happened.

“Our advice to local residents remains the same, we are telling people to stay vigilant and to ensure that they keep their windows and doors locked and secure overnight for their safety.

We have also released a picture of a pair of trainers that detectives believe are similar to the ones worn by the offender.

DCI Brooks continued: “Please look at these shoes and the clothing that the man is wearing. Do you know someone who owns these items? Did you see someone wearing them in the Colne area on Saturday night? If yes, please make contact with us.”

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This latest incident is being linked to two other similar reports which happened in the nearby areas of Nelson and Barrowford in July and August.

The first incident took place at a house on Hawthorne Grove in Barrowford at 5-40am on Saturday, July 23rd when a 70-year-old woman woke up to find a man standing over her bed after he is thought to have got in through an open upstairs window. He left when she shouted at him.

The second incident took place on Saturday, August 13th at an address on Bispham Road in Nelson when a 49-year-old woman was asleep on her sofa in her lounge. At around 4-10am she woke to see a man standing over her and when she shouted at him to leave, he then made off from the house. He is also thought to have entered the address via an insecure ground floor window.

DCI Brooks added: “If the three incidents have indeed been committed by the same man, we can see that his behaviour has been escalating and has culminated in this serious sexual assault on Saturday. It is important that we find him as soon as possible.”

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The offender is described as possibly Asian, in his late twenties, between 5ft 2ins to 5ft 5ins tall with a moustache and facial stubble. He was wearing a baseball cap with a motif on the front and a peak that was lighter than the rest of the hat, a dark jacket and white Nike trainers with red laces.

Anyone who recognises the man or has any information that they think may assist the investigation is asked to call us on 101 quoting incident reference LC-20161009-0269.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online atcrimestoppers-uk.org.