Teenage girl's strip ordeal by gun threat man (From This Is Lancashire)

Teenage girl's strip ordeal by gun threat man

2:46pm Friday 29th June 2007

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A teenage girl was forced to strip off all her clothes in a "humiliating" attack in an alley.

The incident happened in Orrell Road, Orrell, at 10.30pm last night when the 16-year-old told police a man in his early 20s told her he had a gun and she should do what he said.

Although she did not see a weapon at any stage the girl was frightened the man was telling the truth as he had his hand under his coat, said police.

He instructed her to walk down a nearby alleyway, which she did. Once inside the alleyway the man told the girl remove her clothing. The girl was very frightened of the man, and complied with his requests.

A police spokesman said: "The man did not touch the 16-year-old at any time, nor did he expose himself to her. After a few minutes he told the girl to dress again and leave, warning her not to contact police. He walked away in the direction of the Abbey Lakes pub, towards Upholland."

Officers are particularly concerned about this as a very similar incident was reported to Lancashire police on Thursday last week.

Just before 12.30pm police were called to Tontine Road in Upholland following reports that a 17-year-old girl had been subject to an almost identical assault.

The offender in both these incidents is described as white, in his early 20s and about 6ft tall. He had short or shaven hair and a noticably broad nose.

Detective Sergeant Graham Rigby from Leigh CID said: "Although he hasn't actually assaulted them, this man has seriously traumatised his victims, subjecting them to a seriously intrusive and humiliating situation.

"There is no need for people to panic, but please just be vigilant with your personal safety at all times, especially young women if you are walking alone at night.

"I would also ask anyone who was in the area around the time of the attacks, or who may have been the victim of a similar assault, to come forward."

Anyone who has any information about this incident, or who thinks may have seen the man responsible, is asked to contact police on 0161 856 5307 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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