A THREE-year-old girl was left extremely distressed after she was assaulted by an elderly man in a Darlington charity shop, police said last night.
The child was not far from her mother in St Teresa's Hospice Charity Shop, in Skinnergate, when the assault happened at about 11am yesterday.
The girl's mother was only alerted to the attack when another shopper saw the child upset and the man standing near her.
Detective Constable Dave Fitzpatrick, of Darlington Police, said: "The attacker did not leave the shop immediately. He waited until the mother had dragged her daughter away from him before walking out of the shop door.
"The little girl has been left extremely distressed by this assault, as has her mother."
Detectives are anxious to speak to the shopper who alerted the mother.
The attacker is described as being in his 60s, 5ft 8in tall, wearing glasses, a khaki green bomber jacket, black trousers and was slightly balding and grey.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Fitzpatrick on (01325) 467681.
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