Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information after two women reported being sexually assaulted in separate incidents in Rochdale, which detectives believe could be connected. Both attacks occurred in local parks on the morning of 25 July 2026, with victims providing similar descriptions of the suspect.
The first report was made at 06:15 BST, when officers were informed a woman had been sexually assaulted in Broadfield Park by a man she did not know. A second report followed at 08:38 BST, detailing a similar attack on another woman in Milnrow Memorial Park, again by an unknown assailant.
Both victims described the suspect as a black male, believed to have been wearing a three-piece suit or smart black clothing, a dark coat, and carrying a briefcase. This consistent description has led police to investigate a potential link between the two serious incidents.
Detectives have since identified CCTV footage from the Ko-Ko Lounge in Rochdale town centre showing a man who matches the description. This individual was observed leaving the venue at approximately 05:00 BST, about an hour and a quarter before the first reported assault.
Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Willis stated that a number of lines of enquiry are being pursued, with a commitment to identifying and bringing the person responsible to justice. Police are urging anyone who may have seen a man matching the description, or who possesses relevant CCTV, dashcam, doorbell, or mobile phone footage from the town centre, Broadfield Park, or Milnrow Memorial Park areas, to come forward and assist their investigation.