A five-year-old girl was sexually assaulted while out walking with her mother on Easter Monday, police revealed today.
The attacker walked past the mother and another daughter before grabbing the little girl, who was following a few paces behind.
He fled down Coombe Road into Lewes Road, Brighton.
The assault, which happened at 6pm, left the young victim "tearful and upset".
The offender was white with blond hair and about 5ft 7in.
He was scruffily dressed in green combat trousers, a black, brown and green camouflage T-shirt and white trainers.
Detective Constable Rebecca Hazzard, of the Brighton and Hove police child protection team, said: "There were a lot of people in Coombe Road at the time including a man in a long khaki parka coat who was walking his dog who may have seen the man running off.
"I need to speak to this man urgently and anyone else there are the time."
Anyone with information should call Ms Hazzard on 0845 6070999.
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