A COMMUNITY was in shock today after a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a hoodie while walking home.

The girl was left traumatised by the violent attack, which happened on a footpath in Strensall, near York.

Her attacker was about 6ft tall and was wearing a dark hooded top and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Police today appealed for anyone with any information to help them catch the assailant to come forward and phone 0845 60 60 247.

Local City of York councillor Madeleine Kirk said she would be contacting local police to ensure everything possible was done to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.

Coun Kirk said: "I'm shocked, quite frankly. I'm deeply concerned and hope that the young woman gets all the support and help she needs."

Police hunt violent fiend who assaulted 14-year-old girl

A YOUNG girl was subjected to a terrifying and violent sexual assault as she walked home at night in a village near York.

The 14-year-old was walking along a footpath which links Lynwood Close and Middlecroft Drive in Strensall.

She was approached by a stranger and attacked in what has been described by police as a "serious sexual assault".

The extent of her injuries are not known but Insp Steve Burns, of North Yorkshire Police, confirmed the man had been violent and the girl had been left "traumatised" by the incident.

She has since been interviewed by specialist detectives about the assault and has been able to give police officers a description of her attacker.

He is described as around 6ft tall, white and was wearing a dark hooded top with a pocket at the front.

The hood had drawstrings allowing it to cover the man's face.

He also had on dark tracksuit bottoms with white lines running down the legs and dark trainers which may have had Velcro fastenings.

The girl is described as white, 5ft 2ins tall with a slim build and long blonde hair. She was wearing a white vest-style top and black trousers. She also had a white sweatshirt with her.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious that night, or people who saw anyone matching the description of the man or the girl, to phone them on 0845 6060247 quoting incident number 1072360600.

The attack happened at 9.30pm last Thursday, but police only released details of the attack yesterday.

Local people have described their horror at the crime. Wayne Thompson has lived in Lynwood Close for the last ten years and in Strensall for the last 19.

He said: "We're shocked really. We like to think that where we are is the quiet side of the village. There's a little bit of trouble with youths drinking but a bit of noise on a night is the extent of what we normally get.

"Something as serious as this has come out of the blue and taken everyone by shock."

He said people had always felt that Strensall was a very safe area and this would continue, but he thought people would be more cautious.

He added: "We have daughters slightly older than the girl and it makes you sit up and think about it."

Ward councillor Madeleine Kirk said: "I'm shocked quite frankly. I'm deeply concerned and I hope that the young woman gets all the support and help she needs to get over this, as at any age this is a deeply disturbing thing to happen to anyone. I shall be raising this matter with the police as we must make sure that everything possible is done to ensure safety for everyone in the area."