A TEENAGE sex pest exposed himself to a female pedestrian after claiming to be carrying out a questionnaire.

The youth, who was walking a dog, approached the 43-year-old woman late on Thursday. She had been making her way to a nursing home in Blackhall, east Durham.

Although she was talking on her mobile phone, he began quizzing the woman, insisting he was completing a questionnaire, but police said his line of questions took a "sinister turn".

He began making lewd suggestions and then exposed himself to her, at one point trying to grab her round the neck.

The woman managed to break free from him and hurried to the nursing home, where staff reported the incident to police.

Detective Constable Dave Cripwell said: "While the confrontation was over relatively quickly, the victim was left shaken and upset by the unsavoury experience."

The teenager is white, 5ft 7in, aged 16 to 17, and was clean-shaven, with a clear complexion and a long-shaped face.

He was wearing a woollen hat with a darker stripe along the edge, a black top with zip pockets and dark trousers.

His black dog, with medium-length hair, was on a choker-style chain.

Anyone who saw the confrontation, on Hesleden Road, near its junction with West Street, at about 9.30pm, is asked to contact Durham Police's new non-emergency line, on (0845) 60 60 365, or Crimestoppers, on (0800) 555111.