CCTV probe in hunt for gun terror boy (From The Bolton News)

CCTV probe in hunt for gun terror boy

12:08pm Saturday 19th January 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

DETECTIVES hunting a boy as young as 14 who robbed two women at gun-point are studying CCTV from a nearby subway.

One of the women was also sexually assaulted by the youngster, who pounced in Castle Street on Thursday evening.

It is believed he had followed the women from the subway leading from Churchgate and police are now looking at CCTV images from the tunnel.

But officers had this morning still not received any calls from witnesses and are renewing their appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

They are also calling on anyone who thinks they may know who the boy is, including family and friends, to come forward with their suspicions.

The first robbery happened at 5.30pm after a 23-year-old woman had just got into her car. The boy opened the passenger door, sat down, then pointed a gun to her head, threatening to shoot her if she protested.

He then sexually assaulted her, rifled through her handbag and fled with her purse which contained a small amount of cash.

Detectives are now waiting for the results of forensic tests on the car.

They believe the same boy was responsible for holding a gun to the head of a 23-year-old woman near the same spot just 15 minutes after the first robbery.

This time the offender threw her to the floor as she tried to defend herself and stole her handbag before running off towards Eagle Street.

The victim's handbag and purse were later found discarded nearby by police.

A 47-year-old woman also reported being followed to her car as she walked out of the subway on Thursday evening but she was not confronted.

No gun has been recovered and Detective Constable Paul Reed, of Bolton CID, said: "It is worrying for a boy to be carrying a gun, but then it is worring for anybody to be brandishing a gun and targeting lone women.

"We have all got wives and daughters and I really feel for these women.

"These robberies happened at a time when a number of people would have been leaving work so we are hoping someone will come forward with information."

DC Reed is advising women not to walk through the subway alone and urging people to be vigilant.

But he said all criminals were different and that he could not speculate about whether the boy might strike again.

DC Reed added that police were this weekend conducting high profile patrols in the area to help provide reassurance for the public.

The boy was white, aged 14 to 16, about 5ft 2in tall with pale blue eyes and a pale complexion.

He wore a dark coloured jacket with the hood pulled up, dark tracksuit bottoms and a hat with a white line along the bottom which was partially covered by the hood.

He was clean shaven and spoke with a local accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 856 0961 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.