Overview
- The assault reportedly took place between 1.15pm and 2.15pm on Tuesday, June 23, after the woman in her 40s met a man on the footbridge from Claremont Road into the Spital Tongues area.
- Northumbria Police's Safeguarding team launched an immediate investigation and are supporting the victim with specially trained officers while reviewing CCTV and other evidence.
- Officers have released a detailed description of the suspected offender as a white man in his mid-30s, about 5ft 8in, muscular, with short dark hair with grey flecks, believed to be wearing black jogging pants and a white t-shirt and riding a pedal bike.
- Police have increased patrols on the Town Moor and are asking anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage or witness information to contact them via social media private message, the force live chat or 101, quoting reference NP-20260623-0705.
- Detective Inspector Amanda Dickinson praised the victim's bravery, stressed that offences of this kind are rare locally, and said the force recognises public concern while enquiries continue and no arrest has been reported to date.