Sex attacker 'strikes 14 times'

Fourteen sex attacks on women in the past four months may be the work of one man, police in Manchester believe.

The 13 assaults and one rape took place in Manchester, Stockport and Tameside between July and September this year.

Most of the attacks took place near the Ashton Canal, and a pathway known locally as the "Yellow Brick Road".

Police are looking for a man described as being slim, in his late teens or early 20s, who rides a black, red and silver mountain bike.

The attacks have generally taken place at weekends at at 1600 BST and 2200 BST.

Where the attacker has struck Abbey Hey Lane, Openshaw Western Street, Abbey Hey Louisa Street, Openshaw Edge Lane, Droylsden Windsor Road, Droylsden Rock Street, Openshaw Yellow Brick Road, Openshaw Sunnyside Road, Droylsden Cemetery Road, Droylsden Ryder Brow Road, Gorton Longford Road West, North Reddish Foxley Close, Droylsden Nelstropp Road North, Heaton Chapel Debdale Park, Gorton

Seven of the 14 assaults took place on six consecutive weekends in July and August.

The latest and most serious attack happened on the morning of 29 September, near the Sailing Club in in a Debdale Park, Gorton.

A 28-year-old woman was threatened with a knife and raped.

And in a previous attack, a 14-year-old girl was walking down Louisa Street in Openshaw when she was approached from behind, threatened and sexually attacked.

Another teenager was pushed off her bike as she rode down a disused railway line to a work experience placement in North Reddish, Stockport, at 1400 BST on 22 September.

Police are urging anyone who feels they have been attacked by the same man to get in touch with them.

Det Chief Insp Jane Antrobus, leading the investigation, said: "Over the past two months we have been investigating 14 offences that we believe may be related.

"They share some common themes, but we are not discounting some incidents may have been carried out by individuals not responsible for other incidents.

"If someone recognises the description of the offender, the distinctive bicycle he rides or the behaviour of offending - being out and about on their bike around 4pm and 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays- they must contact us as a matter of urgency so we can take the man responsible for these crimes off the street."