Flashers on prowl in town (From This Is Wiltshire)

FLASHERS have not been put off by the cold weather – police have seen a spate of reports from female victims over the last month.

Wiltshire Police have issued appeals following 10 separate incidents of indecent exposure since mid-December, with the most recent taking place this weekend.

A teenager cycling in Tithe Barn Crescent, off Okus Road, at 8.30am on Sunday abandoned her bicycle and ran home after she was ambushed by a man who flashed at her before reportedly calling after her to come back and get her bike.

Police say these incidents are distressing for victims and many have taken place in daylight in the morning or mid-afternoon.

Further incidents have taken place in Grange Park, Haydon Wick and Gorse Hill.

Officers are not linking them as the descriptions of the flashers often differ, suggesting they could be separate perpetrators.

One incident saw a man expose himself to two women walking along the cycle track which runs from the Shaw Ridge Leisure Park to Grange Park at 7pm on Thursday, January 3.

The suspect was described as white, in his 20s or 30s, and 5ft 9ins to 5ft 10ins. He was of medium build, wearing a dark coloured waist length coat with the zip done up and the hood pulled up over his head.

He was also wearing dark blue jeans. He was said to have a dark blue horizontal striped scarf covering most of his face.

Two separate exposures occurred on Ferndale Road on Monday, January 7 at 7.30am and again at the same time the next day, On both ocassions a man flashed women as they walked along the road.

The man was described as white, 40 years old, with short dark hair brushed back from his forehead, clean shaven, with a round face. He was slightly stocky, 5ft 5ins, wearing black trousers and a black T-shirt under a black suit jacket and brown chunky shoes.

A further two incidents, which are being linked took place on the afternoon of Friday, December 21 when an elderly woman was approached by a man as she walked along Pond Street in Haydon Wick.

The man ran off but someone matching his description exposed himself to a young woman walking on the grass adjacent to Seaton Close just minutes later.

That man was described by both women as being white, in his early 40s, between 5ft 8ins and 6ft of average build wearing a dark grey beanie style hat, a navy blue jumper and blue jeans with light patches on the bottom half.

PC Simon Peet said: “These incidents have been particularly distressing for the victims and I would urge anyone who may have witnessed them to come forward.

“I would advise members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.