London police in appeal over Irish man suspected of sex abuse

Detectives in London have had a "really positive" response from the public following an appeal for information about an Irish man alleged to have sexually assaulted a six-year-old boy last summer.

The boy was assaulted in a toilet in a community centre on Gray's Inn Road on July 1st last by a man. He alerted his mother shortly afterwards, but staff lost the man in surrounding streets when they attempted to follow him.

The alleged attacker, who spoke with an Irish accent, is described as a white man aged between 55 and 65 years, with a large stomach and dark chin-length hair with blond or lighter ends, wearing beige trousers, a check shirt and a yellow-patterned baseball cap.

An investigation was launched immediately by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, but no progress was made - which explains its decision to issue a public appeal.

Saying the man was believed to have been very drunk at the time, Det Insp Neil Rawlinson said: "This was a particularly upsetting sexual assault on a young boy by a complete stranger."

The officer said police had received “a really positive response” from the public and urged anyone with information to telephone investigating detectives on 0044 208 733 5999, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0044 800 555 111.