Pervert targets six women in street in three days
A PERVERT who has targeted six lone women in the space of three days is being hunted by police.
Five of the attacks, which happened around Gorgie and city centre, were carried out in broad daylight.
One of the victims was a young mother pushing a pram.
Police have launched an urgent appeal for witnesses amid fears the attacker may strike again.
The culprit struck four times between 3am and 10am on Tuesday morning and then twice again last night.
In all attacks he has grabbed, fondled, or exposed himself to his victims, none of whom have been injured.
A police spokeswoman said: “We believe it is possible that the same man has been responsible for this spate of assaults on women.
“Anyone who may have witnessed the incidents or been a victim themselves is urged to contact police.
“In each case the man is described as being in his late 20s to late 30s and having a dark complexion.
“The two latest incidents last night in the city centre are very similar to the ones previously reported to police in the Gorgie area.
“The descriptions are also the same so we believe it could well be the same man.”
The man first struck just before 3am on Tuesday in Wardlaw Place.
A 33-year-old woman coming home from work was approached from behind and grabbed round the waist.
She struggled with him and the man made off.
Later that morning, between 9.15am and 9.30am, a 22-year-old woman walking in Palmerston Place was indecently assaulted by the man who bumped into her before slapping her on the bottom.
At 9.40am on Gorgie Road at the junction with McLeod Street, the man exposed himself to a 29-year-old woman.
She was walking on the south side of Gorgie Road towards town when she spotted him watching her from the other side of the street.
The man shouted at her and began walking across the road before exposing himself and walking off towards Robertson Avenue.
The fourth attack happened at 10am in Gorgie Road, near Optical Express.
A 25-year-old woman, pushing a pram with her baby inside, was approached from behind by the man, who fondled her.
The victim was said to be “shocked and distressed” after the indecent attack, but was able to get away.
The man then struck again last night in the city centre.
In the first incident, he grabbed a 27-year-old woman’s bottom as she was walking along Cockburn Street at 5.30pm yesterday evening.
Then, just an hour later, he did the same thing to a 28-year-old woman on busy Princes Street - near its junction with Hanover Street - and then carried on walking.
In the first attack, the man was described as being dark skinned, around 5ft 11in with short dark greasy hair, and was wearing a brown bomber jacket.
The second victim described the man as being in his mid 30s, dark skinned and possibly wearing a dark blue beanie hat.
The culprit in the third attack was described as being around 5ft 10in, dark skinned with dark hair.
Police believe there were a number of witnesses in the area at the time, and are particularly keen to trace a man who was having a cigarette outside the Tynecastle Arms pub.
The young mother described her attacker as having a “tanned” complexion.
The two women who were groped last night described their attacker as dark skinned, medium build, 6ft with short dark hair and in his late 20s or early 30s.
He was wearing a cream or tan waist length jacket and jeans during yesterday’s assaults.
Anyone with information on any of the four incidents is urged to contact police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. CATALOGUE OF INDECENT ASSAULTS
3am, Tuesday, Wardlaw Place: A 33-year-old woman is grabbed from behind. The attacker runs off after a struggle.
9.15am-9.20am, Tuesday, Palmerston Place: Man indecently assaults 22-year-old woman, bumping into her before slapping her bottom.
9.40am, Tuesday, Gorgie Road: Man exposes himself to 29-year-old woman after shouting at her.
10am, Tuesday, Gorgie Road: 25-year-old woman fondled while pushing a pram with her baby inside.
5.30pm, Thursday, Cockburn Street: A 27-year-old is grabbed on the bottom.
6.30pm, Thursday, Princes Street: A 28-year-old woman is grabbed on the bottom.
