Appeal for information after sexual assault

Police are appealing for information after a woman was sexually assaulted in Tunstall.

The woman was walking along Scotia Road at approximately 5am this morning (Saturday 12 March) when she was approached by an unknown man who asked for a cigarette. He then sexually assaulted her in an alleyway near to King William Street that backs onto Melstone Avenue.

The offender is described as black, around 6ft tall aged in his late 20s.

He was wearing a black hooded top, black jogging bottoms and grey trainers.

He fled in the direction of Scotia Road.

Detective Inspector Steve Ward said: “The woman is receiving care from specialist officers.

“We are asking people in the area, and the areas surrounding, to review any CCTV or dash-cam footage they may have – you may well have captured the offender on camera and be able to give us valuable information.

“I would like to reassure the community that we have a number of officers working on this case. In addition, we have additional patrols in the area of the incident.

“We are committed to tracing the person responsible and people in the area may notice an ongoing police presence while further enquiries are conducted.”

Anyone with any information, CCTV or dashcam footage should message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter quoting incident number 132 of 12 March, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.