Girl, 12, victim of sex assault

A man sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in Berkshire as she rode on a bicycle with a friend, police said.

The two girls were cycling along a canal tow path behind Thames Valley Business Park in Reading on Monday.

A man, also on a bicycle, stopped the oldest girl and inappropriately touched her before asking her to go into the woods with him.

A member of the public intervened and the man rode off towards the town centre. Police appealed for witnesses.

The man is described as black, in his 40s, average build, about 5ft 9in tall, with a shaved head and a distinctive gold tooth.

He was wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a cannabis leaf logo or design and light blue jeans.

He is believed to have a Jamaican accent.

Sgt Stefan Kristiaan, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This was a very serious and frightening incident for these two young girls.

"I would like to speak to the woman who intervened and possibly prevented the situation from getting worse."