Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault on a footpath between Guardwell Crescent and Gilmerton Dykes Crescent which took place around 8.30pm last night.
An 18-year-old woman was walking alone when she was approached by a man who pushed her and then attempted to unzip her coat.
A short time later a man, who was passing with his black Labrador, shouted towards the suspect. This disturbed him and he left the area in a north-easterly direction.
The woman immediately left the area and subsequently called police. Officers are now investigating the circumstances of the incident and are looking to establish whether the incident was sexually motivated.
The suspect is described as a white man between the ages of 30-40. He has a slim build, a possible tanned complexion and shaved or thinning blond/ light hair. He was wearing a dark puffa-style jacket and dark jogging bottoms.
The male witness officers wish to trace is described as a white man, between the ages of 60-70. He was dressed all in black and was walking a black Labrador.
Detective Inspector Lyle Shaw of Edinburgh Division’s Public Protection Unit said: “We are eager to establish the full circumstances of this incident and are keen to speak to male witness who disturbed the attack.
“I would ask the witness, or anyone who recognises his description, to make contact with us as soon possible.
“Likewise I would also ask anyone with any other information regarding this incident to get in touch with us at their earliest convenience.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
