A KNIFE-WIELDING, mask-wearing  intruder who tied up a mother and her child during a burglary before carrying out a sexual assault is being hunted for by police.

Police say the "horrific incident" took place on January 21, when a masked man got into a house in the Dunwear Lane area through an insecure door between 7.50am and 8.15am.

As well as tying them up and carrying out the assault, the man demanded money and jewellery.

Police believe he left empty handed.

Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Andy Williams said: “We’re treating this as an horrific incident in which a mother and her child were tied up and threatened at knifepoint by an unknown man.

“An offence of this gravity will naturally cause concern in the local community and I’d like to reassure people that we’ve got a team of experienced detectives and officers working on the case.

“We’re looking after the victims who’ve been through an horrendous ordeal and are giving them all the help and support they need.

“During the course of our inquiry we’ve carried out house-to-house enquiries at more than 250 properties and are following up on any leads resulting from these visits.

“It’s likely there will be an ongoing police presence as we continue making enquiries to piece together what happened.

“My team has already received a number of potential sightings and information which could indicate the offender’s movements following the incident:

  • A man matching the offender’s description was seen by a witness in Dunwear Lane at around 8.12am
  • The man was then seen running towards the junction of Westonzoyland Road
  • He turns left into Westonzoyland Road and disappears from sight
  • A man is seen on CCTV by St John and St Francis Primary School
  • A fence was broken in St David’s Court, possibly around the time this incident happened
  • A knife linked to the inquiry has been found in a garden in Somerville Way

“The offender had his face covered but I’m urging people to look at the following description and think about whether they saw someone matching it on the morning of Wednesday January 21, or at any point during the day of the incident or the days before.

“Equally if you know someone who wears clothing similar to those worn by the offender was wearing, we’d like to speak to you.”

The offender is described as:

  • White
  • Between 25 and 60 years old
  • Wearing a yellow high vis fluorescent jacket
  • Wearing a black or dark grey mask or face covering with holes for the eyes and mouth - over the facial covering was a grey hood
  • Wearing dark coloured tracksuit trousers with an elasticated bottom
  • Wearing white trainers

If you can help the investigation, please call Avon and Somerset Police via 101 and quote log number 207 of today, (February 5). If you don’t want to speak to police or would like to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 08005-55111.