A public appeal for information has now been issued after a man was “seriously sexually assaulted” in Harpurhey earlier this month.
The man was on his way to work when he was attacked on Hendham Vale in the Manchester suburb at around 8:15am on 4 December 2023.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the male offender is described as black, in his mid-30s, and around six-feet tall.
Police say the offender was wearing a snood, baseball cap, black hoodie, and black jogging bottoms with white markings going down one side and trailing on the floor when the incident occurred.
With an investigation into the incident now underway, detectives in North Manchester say they are “determined to catch this dangerous individual”, and have therefore issued a public appeal for information.
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Launching the appeal and urging for any potential witnesses to come forward, Detective Sergeant Carla Dalton, from North Manchester CID, said: “This is a horrific and distressing crime that will rightly cause concern within the local community… [but] we are determined to catch this dangerous individual and appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time.
“The victim has bravely provided a statement and is being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.”
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Hendham Vale in Harpurhey, where the incident occurred / Credit: Google Maps
DS Dalton added that local Harpurhey residents and members of the public will likely see extra officers in the area as we carry out our enquiries, but added that this is because GMP is “committed” to keeping people safe in our communities.
“I can reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to reinforce this,” DS Dalton concluded.
Anyone with any information or dashcam footage, or anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, is asked to contact GMP on 0161 856 1146 quoting log 1001-04/12/2023, or alternatively call 101 or report it online via www.gmp.police.uk.
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Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Emily Sergeant -
11th December 2023 
