A 41-year-old woman has been raped after she was followed along the towpath on the Rochdale canal on Friday night
The attack took place in a wooded area, which is accessed by a footpath, near to the canal path near to Morrisons.
It is believed the offender followed the victim for around 15 minutes as she walked along the canal path.
The offender is described as a Black man, who is in his late 20s or early 30s. He is also described as having an accent.
The woman is being supported by specially trained officers and support services.
Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “Clearly, this is a horrifying incident and we are supporting the victim through this process. Her welfare is absolutely paramount to us and we will continue to help her as best as we can.
“We are working hard to trace the perpetrator of this vile crime and have a dedicated team of detectives following every possible line of enquiry available to us. This includes following several forensic leads, as well as exploring CCTV opportunities.
“We would urge anyone with any information to get in contact with us – perhaps you saw something that didn’t seem quite right, or saw a person fitting this description on Friday afternoon near to the Failsworth and North Manchester areas. If so, please come forward and speak with officers as a matter of urgency.”
