A VULNERABLE 15 year old girl was sexually assaulted after being confronted by a man in Thirsk, North Yorkshire police have revealed.

They are appealing for information after the assault which happened between Sunday February 11 and Tuesday February 13, it was reported to police on Sunday February 18. A spokeswoman said the 15 year old was not able to give exact dates, but was approached by a man outside the Crown and Anchor pub in Sowerby, near Thirsk. The teenager was walking along the road and was next to the sign for Gravel Hole Lane when the man confronted her and touched her inappropriately.

The girl fled back up Gravel Hole Lane away from Sowerby Road and the man is understood to have headed towards Thirsk on Sowerby Road.

A police spokeswoman said the suspect is described as white, tall and aged 40 to 50 with scruffy, unwashed, greasy hair, bushy eyebrows, a large unkempt beard and crooked, discoloured teeth. He was wearing a T-shirt and tracksuit trousers and spoke with a non-local accent, possibly from the North East or Merseyside.

Anyone who saw a man matching this description in the area or who has information that could help is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Nicola Pattinson, email nicola.pattison@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk