Two cyclists and a walker could be witnesses to Tarka Trail assault on teenage girl

Two cyclists and a walker have been asked to come forward following an attack on a teenage girl while she walked the Tarka Trail near Bideford on Wednesday (June 25).

Police have already arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but they believe a man and a woman on bicycles and a man walking may have seen the suspect before or after the attack.

The girl had been walking between the Iron Bridge and Heritage Railway Station, towards Bideford at around 5pm when a man grabbed her and pulled her towards the bushes.

The suspect is described as white man, around 30 to 40-years-old, with wrinkled, dirty facial skin, distinctly perfect white teeth and pronounced drawn-down cheekbones.

He has messy dark blonde hair of average, short length, large hands without hair and short chubby fingers. The suspect has a deep voice.

At the beginning of the incident, the suspect was wearing black work trousers with a pocket on the left leg which had a black button and a plain white top without sleeves which was long and baggy.

He later put on a plain, white-sleeved jumper with a hood and a pocket on the belly and left the scene, going towards Bideford wearing the jumper.

Detective Inspector Emma Lefort, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are appealing to anyone who was walking or cycling in the area between the Iron Bridge and Heritage Railway Station, near Bideford, between 5pm and 6pm on Wednesday, June 25 who may have seen anything concerning or any suspicious activity, to contact us.

“It has been reported that two people went past on bikes and another man was there on foot, who we would like to speak to.”

The cyclists are described as a man, who the victim believes saw her and a woman who were cycling together towards Bideford. The victim says she spoke to the man, described as in his late 50s or early 60s, riding on a black bike, but he did not respond.

The victim also described another man in his 50s or 60s, dressed all in blue, wearing circular glasses, who was tall with straight brown hair and spoke with people in the area at the time.

DI Lefort continued: “I would like to appeal to these individuals to come forward as we believe they may have witnessed the incident or may have seen a man in a white top, interacting with or walking with a teenage girl, on or around the Iron Bridge at around 4.30-5pm.

“We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the suspect walking along the Tarka Trail from either direction (from Bideford or Torrington).

“This type of incident is rare in our area and members of the public are likely to see a heightened police presence as enquiries are ongoing.”

If you saw anything or are one of the people mentioned, please call the police on 101, quoting reference number 50250162243. Alternatively you can get in touch via the Devon and Cornwall Police website.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling free phone 0800 555111.