Young girl pushed into canal and friend sexually assaulted

Published: Friday, 08 October 2021

THE towpaths are fast becoming no-go areas in certain areas, as a girl is pushed into the canal whilst her friend was sexually assaulted.

This has resulted in the police hunting an Asian male about the age of 20 who after the attack then fled away on the towpath on a cycle, Keith Gudgin reports.

ManPushedGirlntitledA spate of people pushed into the waterways

Over the months there has been a spate of people being pushed into the waterways, but this is the first time recently that a 14 years old girl as been pushed in, with her friend sexually assaulted by the man, that happened at Schofield Bridge at Dewsbury on the Calder & Hebble Navigation towpath.

As the girl climbed out of the water the man spoke to her indecently and touched her as well as her friend, before riding off.

The police yesterday issued a picture of a man they wish to speak to, and to anyone who can identify the man, as enquiries continue into an incident that has been recorded as a sexual offence, due to the nature of the suspect’s behaviour.

Extensive enquiries

Inspector Lee Baragwanath of Dewsbury Neighbourhood Teams, explained:

"We have been conducting extensive enquiries into this incident since it was reported, and are now in a position to release an Efit of a man we wish to speak with. (Shown above.)

"I would ask anyone who recognises the man pictured or who has any information at all about what took place to contact us.  You may hold a vital piece of information that will enable us to identify this offender."