Officers release CCTV to trace man from takeaway sexual assault

A woman was sexually assaulted in a takeaway in the Gay Village. Officers investigating the incident have released CCTV of a man they want to speak to. Between 2.15am and 2.30am on Sunday 21 August 2011, a 25-year-old woman was in a takeaway on Canal Street, Manchester, ordering food for her group of friends at the end of a night out. While she was at the counter placing an order, a man walked up to her and slapped her bottom. She remonstrated with the man and he laughed at her. Five minutes later, he slapped her bottom again and the woman shouted at him again. The man approached her once more, slid his hand up her thigh and touched her hair. She challenged him yet again, got her food and walked out of the shop, back to her hotel and called police. The man was described as an Asian man, 40 to 50 years old, 5ft 5in tall, with short dark hair which was greying slightly, he was of average build and had a bit of a belly. He was wearing a bright green t-shirt. Detective Constable Peter Woodbridge, based at North Manchester CID, said: "This young woman was visiting Manchester for a weekend away and, like me, I'm sure the public would not wish for her lasting memory of our city to be an experience that unnerved and upset her. "Touching someone in this way when it is entirely uninvited is sexual assault and this woman was so frightened at having to walk across a strange city after such an aggressive approach, she only felt able to contact police when back in the safe surroundings of her hotel. "Please take a good look at the footage and the images from it and if you recognise this man, please contact us." Anyone with information is asked to call officers at North Manchester CID on 0161 856 3690 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.