A NUMBER of new leads are being investigated after police released CCTV images of a ‘key person’ they need to speak to after a grandmother was the victim of a violent sexual assault.

Cleveland Police received a number of calls after the picture was published at the weekend and as a result of the latest appeal, detectives have been provided with good quality CCTV footage of the man they want to speak to in connection with the North Ormesby sexual assault.

The force received a number of calls following the release of a photo of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the attack on a 52-year-old woman on Saturday, June 7.

The new information has led to a number of lines of enquiry and a dedicated team is following up these leads.

Detective Sergeant Jon Hagen, of the Major Crime Team, has again appealed for anyone who saw the man in Middlesbrough town centre, especially the Linthorpe and Borough Roads area, from around 4am up to 6am to come forward.

“It may be that people have been out socialising or travelling to or from work and they have seen this man in the town centre or hanging around between there and the North Ormesby flyover,” he said.

“If you believe you have seen this man please contact Cleveland Police.”

The 52-year-old was on her way to work and was walking along Borough Road on the North Ormesby flyover above Lytton Street when she was attacked at about 6am on the Saturday.

She underwent shoulder surgery and also sustained a broken nose after the brutal attack, when she was punched and dragged down a footbridge before being sexually assaulted.

A man came to her aid, chasing the suspect who ran off towards North Ormesby.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape last week in the West Yorkshire area and was later released on police bail, but he has since been eliminated from police inquiries.

Police have now stepped up patrols in the area to try and allay any fears the community may have.

The victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Anyone with information contact Cleveland Police on the non emergency number 101.