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White van driver sought after making sexual comments to woman in her 80's

Friday, 23 May 2025 09:18

North Yorkshire Police are investigating an incident in Knaresborough.

Police are appealing for information after a woman in her 80s was approached by a man in a white van who made inappropriate comments to her.

At around 9.45am on Tuesday (20th May), the woman was walking along York Place near the junction of York Road in Knaresborough when the white van pulled up alongside her.

The man first told her he was “doing drives and pathways” but then went on to make inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, leaving the woman extremely distressed.

The suspect drove off in the direction of Knaresborough Road towards Harrogate.

The van is described as looking similar to a Ford Transit and as it stopped on the side of the road, another vehicle pipped its horn as it was forced to drive around it.

The suspect is described as aged in his 60s with short grey hair, dressed smartly wearing a cream and coffee coloured t-shirt.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information including anyone who was in the area at the time and saw the white van stop and approach the woman.

They are also seeking the driver of the vehicle who drove around the van, anyone with dashcam footage that may have captured the van or the incident on camera, anyone with doorbell or private CCTV footage along York Road/York Place that may have caught the van or the incident on camera, and anyone else who may have been approached in a similar manner but has not reported it to the police.

A police spokesperson said:

“Please email jemma.grant@northyorkshire.police.uk if you have any information that could help our investigation.

“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC Jemma Grant or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.”

Please quote reference 12250090119 when passing on information.

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