Man charged with sexual assault on women using Bristol-Bath path

Avon & Somerset Constabulary have revealed that a 21-year-old man has been charged on six counts of sexual assaults on women on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.

The alleged incidents all took place on the Sustrans-managed facility, regularly used by cycle commuters, between May and July this year, at Bitton, Oldland Common, Soundwell and Warmley.

The man has been granted police bail on condition that he does not go on the shared-use path, and will appear before Northavon Magistrates on 3 December 2013.

In June, police warned users of the path to be vigilant following three separate reports of sexual assaults on women.

In a statement released at the time, police said: "The first incident was on Tuesday May 28, at about 5.30pm, when a man cycled alongside a woman jogging between Bitton and Warmley despite being shouted at to leave her alone.

"On Thursday June 13 another woman was jogging along the path between Warmley and Wick between 5.30 and 5.45pm. A man repeatedly cycled past her and slapped her on the bottom.

"On Thursday June 20 between 5.10 and 5.20pm there was another similar incident.

"All three women describe a white man, aged in his 20s, wearing a T shirt and cycling gear."

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