Police hunt man in connection with sexual assault of 12-year-olds on London bus

The first assault occurred on 9 December last year

CCTV image released by the Met police (Metropolitan police)

Police have released an image taken from CCTV of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the sexual assault of several 12-year-olds on a London bus.

The first assault occurred on 9 December last year, when the alleged attacker got on the 232 bus at Tottenhall Road, North London.

After boarding the bus, he went and stood close to a 12-year-old girl, who then moved.

“The suspect then moved closer and began to touch her arm before touching her elsewhere," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.

"She moved away again and later got off the bus on Nightingale Road, N22; she reported the incident to police later that day."

According to the police appeal, the suspect remained on the bus and went on to sexually assault two other 12-year-old girls travelling on the same bus.

A further incident occurred on 5 January when a witness reported seeing a man sexually assault a young woman travelling with a small child on the 279 bus. Detectives said they believe the incidents may be linked.

Detectives from the Roads and Transport Policing Command released the CCTV image of a man they need help identifying in connection with the incidents, in addition to a physical description.

The suspect is described as a clean-shaven white male with very short dark hair.

The Met advises passengers to always report incidents of this nature to the police by calling 101.