Man hunted after touching woman in Hove

A man suspected of touching up a teenager in Hove and possibly trying to abduct her is being hunted by detectives.

Sussex Police released CCTV pictures of the suspect today (Monday 16 April) with an appeal for help tracing him.

The alleged incident happened at 7.45pm on Sunday 18 March.

An 18-year-old woman reported being approached by a man as she walked towards a bus stop in Sackville Road. She was by the junction with Livingstone Road.

Sussex Police said that the man touched her over her clothing and asked her to come with him.

She refused and walked into a nearby shop. The man initially followed her but then left and disappeared.

The woman was badly shaken but unhurt.

Police searched the area but found no trace of the man who was described as being of South Asian origin, in his late twenties, 5ft 5in tall and of stocky build.

He was wearing a black short-sleeved polo t-shirt and black trousers or combat trousers.

A police spokesman said: “We are keen to speak to this man in relation to this incident and would ask him – or anyone who thinks they know him – to call us on 101.

“We’d also like to hear from anyone who was in the Sackville Road area on that Sunday evening and thinks they saw anything suspicious.”