Appeal after Abbeydale incident where young girl was assaulted

A man in his 30s has been arrested after police responded to reports that a young girl was forcefully kissed by a stranger in Gloucester.

At around 7.30pm yesterday, Thursday 28 July, a teenage girl was walking along Wheatway in Abbeydale when a man she did not know approached her. 

He made inappropriate comments, forcefully kissed and touched her and made her give him her mobile number. The child is very upset following the ordeal.

Officers attended and, following a search of the area and a call from a member of the public, a man from Gloucester was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

He remains in police custody today, Friday 29 July.

Investigating officers are now keen to hear from anyone who saw or spoke to a white man in the Abbeymead or Abbeydale areas who was pushing a grey bicycle which had a flat tyre. 

Police are asking for anyone who lives in those areas and has a doorbell camera or CCTV to come forward if they have any footage which may assist the ongoing investigation.

Officers are also wanting to hear from any motorists who have dashcam footage.

Several lines of inquiry are taking place and anyone with information is asked to provide this to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 476 of 28 July: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/us/a-crime-that-has-already-been-reported/ 

You can also call police on 101 and quote the same incident number, or provide information anonymously to independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online https://crimestoppers-uk.org