Patrols stepped up in town after series of sexual assaults investigated

Patrols have been stepped up in Buxton as detectives investigate a series of sexual assaults.

High visibility patrols, along with plain clothes officers, are being deployed to the town as enquiries into the incidents continue.

The most recent assault took place on Friday (3 December) evening and took place close to the junction of the A515 and Harpur Hill Road at around 11.30pm on Friday December 3. The victim, a woman in her 30s, was grabbed from behind and then sexually assaulted by a man wearing dark clothing who was described as being around 5ft 10ins tall, white and with stubble.

Two other incidents are now being linked to the assault from Friday night.

The first incident took place in Pavilion Gardens at around 10pm on 17 November and involved a teenage girl being sexually assaulted by an unknown man who was described as White and aged between 40 and 50 years old. He had a stubbly beard, was around 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall and was wearing a dark puffer jacket and a dark cap.

The second incident occurred two days later in Byron Street at around midnight where a man attempted to grab a woman in her 40s. The victim described the man as wearing camouflage trousers, a thick red cheque lumber jack jacket with a black hood and a black face covering.

Detectives investigating the three incidents are appealing for CCTV or dashcam footage from the following streets for each of the incidents:

Friday 3 December between 11pm and 1am:

• London Road
• A515
• Harpur Hill Road

Friday 19 November between 11.45pm and 12.30am the following day:

• Dale Road
• New Market Street
• Byron Street
• Heath Road

Wednesday 17 November between 9.30pm and 10.30pm:

• Macclesfield Road Buxton
• Bath Road
• Broad walk
• Burlington Road

Detective Sergeant Jesse Conquest said: “These three incidents have understandably caused concern in the area and the force is taking the reports seriously.

“High visibility patrols, as well as plain clothes officers, are working across the town and I would urge anyone who is concerned to speak to those officers they see on the street.

“I would also urge anyone who lives on the above roads, or has a business with CCTV, to check any footage that they may have that could assist with the investigation.

“Also of interest are any drivers who may have been in the areas at the times detailed above and may have dashcam footage that captured anything that may be of interest to officers.

“I would also appeal to anyone who may have been approached, or been concerned by, the behaviour of a man in the area and has not reported it to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Derbyshire police using any of the below methods, including reference 21000705684:

• Facebook– send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary
• Twitter– direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact
• Website– complete the online contact form derbyshire.police.uk/ContactUs.
• Phone – call us on 101.

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.