*UPDATE: ADDITION: MANCHESTER POLICE HUNT RAPIST:
A student in Manchester was dragged into an alley and raped in a "harrowing and distressing" attack on her way home from a night out, prompting police to step up patrols in the area.
Greater Manchester Police is hunting the rapist who approached the 19-year-old in Ladybarn Lane, Fallowfield at 3.30am on Saturday 25 October and offered to walk her home. Despite her protests, he continued to pester her and dragged his victim into the alleyway which runs between Whitby Road and Filey Road.
A view from Whitby Road looking towards Ladybarn Lane, with one of the road's alleys on the right
The offender was said to be black or Asian, around 5ft 9" tall with a slim build and very short black hair.
He was clean shaven and was wearing baggy blue or grey jeans and a long-sleeved top.
Detective Inspector Damian Simpson, of the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “This was a harrowing and deeply distressing attack for the young woman and we will be providing support to her throughout this difficult and traumatic time.
"That support is being given by specially-trained officers and we will continue to offer whatever assistance she and her family need in the coming days and weeks.
“The attack will obviously raise concerns in the community and especially among the student community and I would like to assure the public that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we catch this man as quickly as possible."
Simpson added he would be increasing patrols in the area to provide a visible reassurance on the ground.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, the Serious Sexual Offences Unit on 0161 856 1945 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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UPDATE: *Press Association - Teenage boys have been encouraged to send inappropriate pictures on social media. Teenagers are reportedly being tricked and blackmailed into sending inappropriate images through social media, police have said.
The victims, mainly boys aged 13 to 17, living in the Seaford, Newhaven and Peacehaven areas of East Sussex, have been asked for the images by someone calling themselves Jenny Lane or jennylane1994, according to Sussex Police.
The person claims to be a woman, aged 19 or 20, from Essex, who is moving to Brighton, and then asks the teenagers to share inappropriate images, a force spokeswoman said.
Detective Constable Steve Shimmons said: "This person has used an array of social media, including Facebook and Skype, to contact teenagers and has sent out more than 100 friend requests.
"So far 10 young people have come forward to say they have been contacted, two of them reporting that they were threatened with having images posted online if they did not send further inappropriate images.
"We are keen to speak to anyone who has been contacted on social media by someone purporting to be Jenny Lane.
"If you have been approached but haven't yet spoken to us, please contact us.
"We understand that it may be difficult to come forward but we can assure you that you will be supported and your report will be treated sensitively.
"This is a serious offence that we believe has impacted on a large number of people."
Police are working with schools in the area which are supporting the investigation.
Anyone who has been contacted by this person or who has information should talk to a teacher or call police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting Operation Insight or serial 1218 09/08.
A 29-year-old man from Newhaven arrested earlier this month on suspicion of possessing indecent images and blackmail has been bailed until April 5 while investigations continue, police said.
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Parents have been warned to be on their guard after a series of reported sightings of strangers approaching children in Manchester and Glasgow.
A student in Manchester was dragged into an alley and raped in a "harrowing and distressing" attack on her way home from a night out, prompting police to step up patrols in the area.
Greater Manchester Police is hunting the rapist who approached the 19-year-old in Ladybarn Lane, Fallowfield at 3.30am on Saturday 25 October and offered to walk her home. Despite her protests, he continued to pester her and dragged his victim into the alleyway which runs between Whitby Road and Filey Road.
The offender was said to be black or Asian, around 5ft 9" tall with a slim build and very short black hair.
He was clean shaven and was wearing baggy blue or grey jeans and a long-sleeved top.
Detective Inspector Damian Simpson, of the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “This was a harrowing and deeply distressing attack for the young woman and we will be providing support to her throughout this difficult and traumatic time.
"That support is being given by specially-trained officers and we will continue to offer whatever assistance she and her family need in the coming days and weeks.
“The attack will obviously raise concerns in the community and especially among the student community and I would like to assure the public that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we catch this man as quickly as possible."
Simpson added he would be increasing patrols in the area to provide a visible reassurance on the ground.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, the Serious Sexual Offences Unit on 0161 856 1945 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
............
UPDATE: *Press Association - Teenage boys have been encouraged to send inappropriate pictures on social media. Teenagers are reportedly being tricked and blackmailed into sending inappropriate images through social media, police have said.
The person claims to be a woman, aged 19 or 20, from Essex, who is moving to Brighton, and then asks the teenagers to share inappropriate images, a force spokeswoman said.
Detective Constable Steve Shimmons said: "This person has used an array of social media, including Facebook and Skype, to contact teenagers and has sent out more than 100 friend requests.
"We are keen to speak to anyone who has been contacted on social media by someone purporting to be Jenny Lane.
"If you have been approached but haven't yet spoken to us, please contact us.
"We understand that it may be difficult to come forward but we can assure you that you will be supported and your report will be treated sensitively.
"This is a serious offence that we believe has impacted on a large number of people."
Police are working with schools in the area which are supporting the investigation.
Anyone who has been contacted by this person or who has information should talk to a teacher or call police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting Operation Insight or serial 1218 09/08.
A 29-year-old man from Newhaven arrested earlier this month on suspicion of possessing indecent images and blackmail has been bailed until April 5 while investigations continue, police said.
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Parents have been warned to be on their guard after a series of reported sightings of strangers approaching children in Manchester and Glasgow.
Greater Manchester Police, who have launched Operation Mint in
response to the incidents, first received a report on 17 October around
3.50pm that a black man, aged in his forties, with short dark hair in an
old Land Rover approached children in Abbey Hey and asked them where
they lived.
Shortly after 5pm, police received a report that two men in a car spoke to an 11-year-old girl while she was out jogging in Blackley, telling her they had been sent to take her home.
The driver believed to be American, is described as white and in his late forties, with medium-length straight black hair, green eyes and of slim build.
He was wearing a white top and blue jeans.
The passenger, also described as white and in his late forties, has short dark hair, green eyes and is of slim build. He was wearing a turquoise top and white jeans.
The car is described as "appearing old", dark green and was a small hatchback, similar to a Nissan Micra or VW Polo.
Clayton Memorial Park sighting
On the same day shortly after 7.10pm, police received reports that a man on a swing had taken pictures of young girls in Clayton Memorial Park on his phone before following them when they walked off.He is described as black with stubble or a short beard and was wearing a red cap. He allegedly told children in the park he was 12 years old and appeared confused.
Detective Inspector Mark Hudson said: "Thankfully, no attempt has been made to grab or physically harm any of the children. However, they, their families and no doubt the communities will be concerned about this.
"We are keeping an open mind about these incidents, which at the moment amount to suspicious activity.
"We will brief officers in the relevant neighbourhoods and keep an eye out for people and vehicles matching the descriptions.
"The children have done exactly the right thing in telling parents and the police.
"These incidents act as a reminder that children should not talk to strangers and I would encourage parents to talk to their kids about this and to stress that if they approached in this manner to simply walk away and tell an adult."
www.childseyemedia.com/safer_strangers_code.html
Now Operation Mint has been launched to target individuals who may pose a risk to young people.
Chief Superintendent Nick Adderley said: "Protecting our communities, especially our children, is an absolute priority which is why we have today launched Operation Mint.
"I want to stress that we have not had any reports of children being assaulted or taken but I want to make it clear that it is unacceptable for any adult stranger to approach a child or young person and attempt to engage or entice them."
Two incidents in Glasgow
According to the Mirror, two separate incidents have also emerged in Glasgow. A 27-year-old woman told police two men followed her on Tuesday while she went shopping with her newborn baby and three-year-old son in Asda in Linwood. She alerted security before the men fled in a van with a man sitting at the back.Another woman revealed she had been targeted in a similar incident in February after she was followed by two Middle Eastern men while shopping at Tesco with her three-year-old daughter in Springburn, Glasgow.
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