A MASKED sex fiend who indecently assaulted a terrified housewife as he held a knife at her throat was being hunted today.

The 50-year-old victim thought the man was a mugger and offered him the contents of her handbag.

But he chillingly told her: "It's not the money I'm after."

In desperation the woman screamed, panicking her attacker and he fled on foot.

Today the mother of four spoke about her terrifying ordeal and warned other lone women to avoid taking a well used pathway. The thug grabbed her hair from behind on the path in Bradshaw as she was taking a short cut home from a Harwood supermarket.

She ran to her home nearby to raise the alarm.

Police arrived within minutes and searched roads and adjoining fields but there was no sign of the man. They fear he may strike again and have warned local women to be on their guard.

The man pounced shortly after 10.30am yesterday as the woman was taking a short cut home near Bradshaw Cricket Club on the path between Bradshaw Road and Turton Road.

Detectives believe the man may have been waiting for some time.

The woman was badly shocked, but otherwise uninjured. But she said: "I am a nervous wreck and can't stop crying. I am afraid to go out of my front door.

"He told me not to scream or speak and to just walk, but I did scream and that is what saved me. I can still feel the metal of his knife on my neck.

"He was obviously familiar in the area and ran off towards Grange Park. There are loads of OAPs who use the path and I am just warning them and others to be careful."

Police say the attacker is white, in his late teens or early 20s and was wearing a dark coloured top and grey tracksuit type trousers.

A reward for information leading to his capture is being offered.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Paul Swindells or Det Con Janette Hill at Astley Bridge CID.

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