DETECTIVES are hunting a man who tried to grab a teenage girl as she walked her dogs in woodland.

The 16-year-old was approached as she walked her two spaniels along the dirt track, which runs between an area known as The Piney Woods and a nearby football field in South Moor, Stanley.

A man attempted to reach out and grab her shoulder. She could see he was partially undressed and exposing himself.

The girl managed to evade his grasp and one of the dogs made an attempt to bite him.

She and the dogs then ran from the area and as she looked back, she noticed the man run from the dirt track and into the woods.

A police dog brought in to track a scent followed a trail to the car park in Park Road, opposite the entrance to South Moor Park, before the scent went cold.

PC Alex Armstrong said: "Not surprisingly, the victim was left very distressed by the incident.

"Although he was trying to disguise his identity, we hope someone will recognise the description of what he was wearing, or they may have seen him in the area on Tuesday afternoon."

The man was of unknown age, white, short and of stocky or muscular build. He had a plain black baseball cap and black scarf over his head and face, he also wore a grey or blue padded jacket and dark corduroy trousers.

Any witnesses are asked to call Stanley police on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers, 0800-555111.

5:17pm Friday 9th May 2008

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