POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 17-year-old girl was knocked to the ground and indecently assaulted on a Richmond pathway.

The girl, who was a student from Kew was attacked on February 13 at 7.55am as she walked through Church Court, the pathway that links George Street to Paradise Road past Tesco and Richmond Parish Church.

As she walked from George Street towards the bus station, she was approached from behind by a man who pulled her down to the ground. He ran round in front of her and tried to pull her trousers off but she screamed and struggled free and ran off, not looking back.

The suspect is described as an Arabic or Asian male, aged 35-50, dirty in appearance with dark eyes and dirty teeth. He had chubby fingers with very short nails, wearing a navy blue knee length overcoat and a dark coloured beanie style hat.

DC Chris Page of Twickenham CID said: "This is usually a very busy pathway at this time of the morning as people make their way through from the railway station to the bus station.

"This type of incident is out of the ordinary for this area and if this man is not caught it is possible that he could do something like this again."

If may help to jog memories that workmen are currently in the area. Police are appealing to anyone who can shed any light on the incident, whether they saw it or know who this man is. If you can help call DC Page on 8247 7033.