Police Appeal for Witnesses After Woman Sexually Assaulted and Pursued in Cheltenham

Authorities are appealing for public assistance following an incident last month in Cheltenham where a man sexually assaulted and chased a woman. Gloucestershire Police reported that the victim was walking along Portland Street at approximately 03:25 BST on Sunday, October 20, when she was sexually assaulted by a man walking in the opposite direction. According to police, the unidentified man grabbed the woman without her consent and whispered “I love you” in her ear. The woman then proceeded towards Winchcombe Street, and he pursued her down the road before turning around and heading in a different direction. Gloucestershire Police stated that the woman did not sustain physical injuries but was left shaken by the experience. Officers were dispatched to search the vicinity, but the man was not located. A call handler remained on the phone with the victim until she had safely returned home, after which officers recorded her statement. The man is described as being Indian, in his late 30s or early 40s, and approximately 5ft 7in (173cm) tall. He had black medium-length hair, a full beard just over stubble length, and was wearing a dark-colored t-shirt and jeans. Investigating officers have conducted CCTV inquiries in the area and are now requesting that anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the man in the vicinity contact them. Readers can follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions are accepted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material on external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.