A flasher on a "quiet" electric motorbike has been stalking lone women on a walkway popular with families. The man was seen by several people on a linear pathway and woods near Roe Green, Worsley.
Now police are stepping up patrols in the area. The path, a former railway line, runs from Monton through Roe Green, and up to Little Hulton. But all of the incidents have been near Roe Green and Worsley.
Local residents believe he is stalking lone women before performing sex acts on himself. One local posted on a Facebook page for residents of the village at the weekend: "This guy who is masturbating and flashing is in the woods now, me and my husband have just been stood watching him from the lower path.
"We came in at 8.15 and he was there and rode off towards the motorway after about 1/2 hr, I think only because it was quite busy tonight. He was sat on the same bench smoking dressed all in black, he is riding an electric black motorbike with this large bright white light on the front.
"I called 999 and they asked if I was in danger, I said no because I was with my husband so they transferred me, but I was just holding couldn't get through and then saw him ride off." They added that the man was in his early 20s, slim, with fair hair and blue eyes.
"Most of the time dressed all in black, black hoodie or beanie hat on and top/scarf pulled up to hide face but also been seen acting strangely in the same spot during the day in normal clothing with the same bike. Black very quiet electric motor bike with a large bright white light on the front of it."
Another woman posted: "Can everyone please be careful in Worsley Woods. There is a man dressed in black acting in a very disconcerting manner. He tried hiding from me (I was walking on my own) and it looked as if he was preparing to pounce. I walked through a stream to escape as I knew something wasn't right.
"Then exactly two weeks later he was in the same place pleasuring himself and staring whilst doing it, directly at a lone female dog walker. Both incidents were on a Friday night in daylight on the path that runs next to Crossfield Drive. We have reported it to police and they are going to carry out observations."
Another resident posted: "I walked from Roe Green to Monton and back today and I felt so bad for all the women walking/jogging down there alone, especially at the more secluded parts of the loopline .. this is terribly worrying as he seems to be doing it more and more, I just hope he's caught or someone wraps their metal dog lead around his head and scares him off indefinitely, before something serious happens."
John Jackson posted: "Seems to be a pattern of timings forming here. Wouldn't take too much effort you'd think to track this pervert down before he escalates his behaviour. What does it actually take for the police to step in here?
Another local commented: "The thing is as well if he’s on a bike, he could be doing this kind of thing in other areas as well. I won’t be walking in the woods until he’s caught, IF he’s caught, but I live in Astley and my daily walk is through fields and wooded areas near the canal, what’s to stop him frequenting other areas?"
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement to the Manchester Evening News: "Police are aware of reports circulating on social media in relation to a man that has been spotted committing acts on indecent exposure in woods in the Roe Green area. In response, GMP's Salford neighbourhood policing team will be putting together extra patrols in the area as reassurance to the public, as well as to try and identify any offender."
Anyone with information if asked to contact Police on 101 or use our LiveChat service on our website www.gmp.police.uk Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
