POLICE are appealing for information to track down a man who allegedly performed sex acts near a cycle path.

The incidents occurred along the Bilton to Ripley cycle path in August last year and February this year.

On Thursday, August 21, 2014, between 6pm and 6.30pm, a woman was jogging towards Ripley when she spotted a man appear from bushes in the distance. As she approached him she noticed he was topless, had his trousers around his ankles and was performing a sex act on himself.

The second - and almost identical - incident was reported by a woman cyclist at about 4.30pm on Thursday, February 12. She was about a mile into her journey from Bilton when the suspect walked out from trees.

On both occasions the cycle path was quiet with very few people nearby.

The suspect is described as white, aged between 30 and 50, about 6ft tall with a skinny to medium build and a hairless chest. He was wearing a baseball cap, which was possibly dark or navy blue or grey.

Sergeant Amanda Hanusch-Moore said: “Due to the similarity of the circumstances and the descriptions of the suspects, we believe the two disturbing incidents are connected.

“We are appealing for people to come forward and are particularly interested in other incidents that have not been reported to the police.

“Even the smallest piece of information or detail could prove vital to the investigation.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.