Yahoo Finance Teen, 19, charged with string of sex attacks on women on footpaths across Manchester and Cheshire
A 19-year-old has been charged with a string of sexual assaults on women on footpaths across Manchester and Cheshire.
Joshua Etchells, of Lowton Road, Sale, has been charged with 12 counts of sexual assault by touching between March 1 and 7, Greater Manchester Police said.
In each of the incidents, which happened across Sale, Altrincham, Timperley, Stretford, Old Trafford and Lymm, a man approached the victim from behind on a mountain bike and touched them inappropriately whilst riding past.
#CHARGE | A man has been charged in connection with 12 sexual assault incidents that occurred across #Trafford and #Cheshire between Monday 1 March and Sunday 7 March 2021. pic.twitter.com/rTIlvcHLkA
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) March 14, 2021
Police said the charges are the result of Operation Carbon - a dedicated operation set up following a number of reports of sexual assault that happened between Monday, March 1 and Sunday, March 7.
The attacks were largely centred on canal and river towpaths as well as the Trans Pennine Trail trail — a long-distance path through the Pennines used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
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Etchells is due to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Monday (March 15).
He has been remanded in custody, Greater Manchester Police said.
A 28-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of sexual assault has since been released with no further action.
Greater Manchester Police worked with Cheshire Police to investigate the attacks and said while nobody was injured, the victims had been left distressed by the incidents.
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