Patrols stepped up in hunt for Swinton Boxing Day sex attacker who assaulted three women

The sexual assaults all took place in Swinton with the first at around 8.50pm on December 26 when a 52-year-old woman was walking along Queen Street.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said she was approached by an unknown man who touched her inappropriately before he made off towards Thomas Street. 

The second incident was reported by a 26-year-old woman, who was walking with friends along Station Street, Swinton, at around 9.20pm.

She was approached from behind and touched inappropriately by a man, who ran off.

Ten minutes later, a 32-year-old woman was also sexually assaulted as she walked through St Margaret’s Church churchyard.

The sex attacker was described as between 5ft 4ins and 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing a dark coloured jacket with a grey stripe down the back of the hood.

Det Con Janine Broughton added: “I’m aware these incidents will have caused alarm within the community and I would like to offer my reassurance that we have a dedicated team of officers currently investigating the incidents.

“High visibility patrols will now be conducted in the area and anyone with information is asked to report it via 101 quoting either incident number 857, 816 or 865 of December 26.”