Man indecently approaches three girls in 40 minutes in Heywood

A man indecently assaulted and threatened to rape one girl, and indecently exposed himself to another in a series of incidents in Heywood, Rochdale.

Police believe that the same man approached three girls, aged between 15 and 18, in the space of 40 minutes on Wednesday 4 June 2008, and are urging the public to be vigilant.

The first incident happened on Market Street at around 1.20pm. A man followed a 15-year-old girl, touched her indecently, and threatened to rape her.

The girl managed to run away, past a bus stop outside the Heywood Civic Centre.

Moments later, between 1.30pm and 1.45pm an 18-year-old woman was walking her dog on Queen's Park Road, when a man followed her along Willow Street and onto Starkey Street.

When the woman reached the field next to Prospect Place the man indecently exposed himself and verbally abused her.

A short time later, between 1.45pm and 2.00pm, a 15-year-old girl was walking home from school on Green Lane, by the railway line, when a man stopped her in her path, showing her an indecent image from a mobile phone.

The man then verbally abused the girl, who managed to run away.

The offender is described as male, white, between 25 to 35 years old, around 6ft tall and of a slim build. He has short brown hair that may be greying, a stubble and a large nose. He was wearing blue tracksuit bottoms and a navy blue and white hoped jumper.

Detective Inspector Daryl Chadwick said: "Behaviour like this in public in the middle of the day is extremely frightening for the victims and completely unacceptable.

"Given the small timeframe and radius of the incidents reported, we believe that the same man is responsible.

"People at the bus stop on Market Street, by the field at Prospect Place, or by the railway line on Green Lane must have seen something to help us track this man down, and I would appeal to them to contact us immediately.

"I do not want to create any unnecessary fear I would like to ask people to be vigilant."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1977 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.