Police hunt men who threatened girls

A KNIFE-wielding man who threatened to kill two girls and a sex attacker who grabbed an 11-year-old are being hunted today.

Ipswich police are appealing for the public's help after the incidents occurred in the Colchester Road area and east Ipswich.

Officers said a 10-year-old girl and a friend of around the same age were confronted by a man who pulled a knife on them in Moffat Avenue, near Selkirk Road.

The man approached them and threatened their lives if they walked behind him again. He then produced a pocket knife before both girls fled.

Police are keen to trace an older man who was standing on the other side of the road at the time and is likely to have seen what occurred.

One of the girls described the culprit as white, aged in his 40s, with black greying short hair with a bald patch. He was wearing grey/green leather flip flops, a yellow/green stripy top, grey shorts and black sunglasses.

Her friend said he was white, about 40 years old, 5ft 6in tall, with black/brown short hair, a goatee beard and was wearing a white baseball cap, a cream coloured jumper, blue jeans and blue flip flops.

The girls were threatened around 5pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile another man is being sought after he grabbed an 11-year-old girl's chest on a recreation ground at St Augustine's Gardens.

The youngster was riding her bike when her assailant jumped out of the bushes, before grabbing her stomach and chest.

She managed to flee before anything else happened.

The attack occurred between 5.30pm and 5.45pm on Wednesday.

The man is described as white, but with a sun tan, aged in his early 30s, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build and with short untidy mousey brown hair. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on either of the offences should telephone Ipswich Neighbourhood Response Team on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.