Neil Wilby Media

Greater Manchester Police is appealing for information following reports of a serious sexual assault near Wrigley Head in Failsworth on Friday evening (2nd August, 2024).

At around 5.55pm, a man was approached by three other men, assaulted and subjected to a serious sexual assault.

The force say he is currently being assisted by specialist officers and his wellbeing and care is at the heart of their ongoing work.

Officers believe this to be a targeted attack and there is no risk to the wider public.

Detectives are now looking to speak to three men in relation to this incident and they are described as black males in their 30s, wearing black and white scarfs round their necks and of an athletic build.

One of the men was wearing jeans and another wearing trousers with pockets on.

Officers are also keen on identifying anyone who was in the area around that time – this includes anyone who may have any relevant doorbell, dashcam, or CCTV footage from around the time of the incident.

Wrigley Head sits close to New Moston and Hollinwood, within Oldham Metropolitan Borough. It is also close to the motorway network (J22 on M60) and a short distance to Manchester City centre.

Detective Inspector Andrew Day from GMP’s Oldham District said: “Our specialist officers are supporting the man involved in this incident and we are doing all we can to provide the appropriate care that he needs at this time.

“We understand the concern this will raise but we want to reassure everyone that we are continuing to investigate all lines of enquiry to ensure we can find those responsible and remain committed on tackling these crimes.

“The local community will see an increased police presence in and around the area and I would encourage members of the public to approach our officers if they have any additional concerns.

“We would like to appeal to anyone with information to please get in touch with officers. In particular, if you were around the area at the time of the incident and saw anything that looked suspicious, unusual or out of place.

“Please contact us as your help could prove to be extremely useful. No matter how big or small it may seem, all information is vital.”

If you have any information, please contact us via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 2753 of 02/08/2024.

You can also contact the CID team directly on 0161 856 8999.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Support Available

If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

You can also report information and crimes on the GMP website (www.gmp.police.uk).

There are also lots of organisations and support agencies available across Greater Manchester and nationally that can help and provide support for victims and their families and friends.

For more information and to find the support services available to you, please visit GMP’s support pages.

Support for Rape and Sexual Assault:

St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre – Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

Trafford Rape Crisis and Manchester Rape Crisis are run by women for women who have experienced rape and sexual abuse. They are both confidential and can provide information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives.

We Are Survivors Manchester – provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

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Page last updated: Sunday 4th August, 2024 at 1125 hours

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