Bridgwater burglar ties up mother and young child and carries out sexual assault at knifepoint in 'horrific' Somerset break-in

Masked man demanded jewellery but left the house apparently empty-handed

Police conduct door-to-door inquiries after a mother was tied up and sexually assaulted at knifepoint in front of her young child in a burglary at her home (PA)

A masked burglar has tied up a mother and her young child before carrying out a sexual assault at knifepoint in what police described as a “horrific” break-in in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Avon and Somerset Police issued a public appeal to help find the attacker, who threatened the pair before fleeing the house empty-handed.

The burglar was able to enter the house through an unlocked door between 7.50am and 8.15am on 21 January, and initially demanded money and jewellery.

Police said they are looking after the victims, who are not being identified due to the nature of their “horrendous ordeal”.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Williams said: “We're treating this as an horrific incident in which a mother and her child were tied up and threatened at knifepoint by an unknown man.”

“It's likely there will be an ongoing police presence as we continue making enquiries to piece together what happened,” he said.

The man was described as white, aged between 25 and 60, wearing a yellow hi-vis fluorescent jacket, dark-coloured tracksuit trousers and white trainers.

He had a black or dark grey mask or face covering with holes for the eyes and mouth, and wore a grey hood over this.

The incident took place at a house in Sydenham area of Bridgwater, and police said there had been a number of sightings of a man matching the description in the moments after the attack, including on CCTV near a local primary school. A knife believed to have been used in the attack has also been retrieved from a garden.

They nonetheless appealed for anyone with information to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.