Woman indecently assualted in front of her two-year-old child

Jun 24 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A WOMAN was indecently assaulted while walking with her two-year-old child on Saturday afternoon.

Police have launched an investigation after the “traumatising” incident which took place at Murray Place in Minnigaff, near Newton Stewart.

The 24-year-old was approached by a man who got out of a green Renault car and then carried out the attack. The incident took place at around 11.50am.

A police spokesman said the victim was unhurt, but badly shaken.

He told the Standard: “The young woman was walking along the street with her baby girl when she noticed a car follow her from behind.

“A man suddenly got out of the car and grabbed the female while indecently assaulting her.”

He added: “After the assault the woman made her way to her parents' home where she reported the incident. She was luckily not injured during the incident but was extremely traumatised by what had happened.”

The man who carried out the attack was a passenger in the green car which had two other men in the vehicle at the time.

Local councillor for the area, Alistair Geddes, said the attack was appalling.

“What happened to this young woman is completely unacceptable,” he said. “I urge members of the public to come forward with any information they may have which would help police identify the man responsible for this appalling attack.”

Police have appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them.

A spokesman added: “We are extremely keen to trace the man responsible for this and are appealing to anybody who saw them to contact police in Newton Stewart or use the anonymous Crimestoppers phone line.”

Police can be contacted on 0845 600 5701.

Meanwhile, cops in Dumfries are urging women to be vigilant after an assault in the town.

The warning comes after a 26-year-old woman was attacked while she walked along Welldale Place in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The attacker grabbed hold of the female but luckily she fought back and fled the scene.

Police are urging anyone who was in the area at around 2.30am, who may have seen anything suspicious, to contact them.

The man, who had an Eastern European accent, was around five-foot ten inches tall with dark brown or black long hair. The unshaven man had dark eyes, white skin and a slim build. He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt with vertical pale coloured stripes which was tucked into blue denim jeans.

If you have any information call police on 0845 600 5701, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.