DETECTIVES are hunting a sex attacker who indecently assaulted two young girls out shopping with their families.

Laurence Cawley

DETECTIVES are hunting a sex attacker who indecently assaulted two young girls out shopping with their families.

The first incident happened in Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, between 2.15pm and 2.25pm yesterday when a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in WH Smith.

She was shopping with her mother when a man approached her from behind, pushed her into a corner and indecently assaulted her. There is no description of the man at present, though it is thought he may have been with a second person.

The second incident happened in Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds between 3.20pm and 3.30pm yesterday when a 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at the Warehouse Clearance Store.

A spokeswoman for the police said: “The girl was shopping with her family but browsing alone near the front of the store, when a man approached her and touched her inappropriately - she screamed and he ran off into the car park, got into a dark blue car and drove away the wrong way round the car park.”

The attacker is described as white, in his 40s, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, with short but messy brown greying hair. He had large brown or yellow glasses, a black leather jacket, a brown top and possibly walking boots and black trousers.

Anybody with information about either incident should contact Sgt Carl Edley at Bury St Edmunds Police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.