Child Assault Suspect

Police, investigating an assault on a 10-year-old girl from Herstmonceux, have issued an E-fit of a man they would like to talk to.

It is of a man who reached out through his car window and grabbed her wrist as she cycled on Windmill Hill at around 6.40pm last Saturday, on 18 September. The girl pulled away and cycled home.

The man is described as around 30, with straggly blond/brown hair, olive skin, stubble, wearing knee-high boots with buckles, black trousers and a black zipped hoody.

A police spokesman said: "The girl, who was shaken by the ordeal, has given us a good description of the man she saw. We hope that someone may recognise him through this E-fit so we can trace him and the driver. We don't know what the man's intentions were, but we are taking his actions seriously. If they thought they were joking around, they've left a young girl very upset and I urge them to come forward so that they can explain their actions."

Police are continuing their enquiries, which include viewing CCTV of the area, in an effort to trace the men who were in a small car described as cyan blue, index of S or 5, dirty and scratched with a roof rack and black seats.

The male driver is described as having long hair and wearing a turquoise jumper with white buttons.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 1408 of 18/9 or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.