A WOMAN was left “petrified” after being touched inappropriately at Basildon bus station.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, was approached by a man at 6.15pm on Monday when he reportedly touched her hip and buttocks.

Moving away from the man, the “shaken” victim watched the perpetrator board a bus before calling the police.

As of yet, no arrests have been made and Essex Police have confirmed their enquiries are ongoing.

It follows a string of sexual assaults across the borough this year, with four women targeted in February and another sexually assaulted in the Roundacre underpass just last month.

Craig Rimmer, from the enforcement and public order committee, said: “It’s obviously a concern and extremely disappointing to have this happening in our borough.

“Clearly the guy is a sex pest and needs to be found, it is completely inappropriate behaviour which is quite alarming.

“I feel sorry for the poor lady involved, going through something like this can really knock people’s confidence.

“The people like this culprit are in the tiny minority, but it is still shocking to hear this is going on.

“The police and the council can arrange for attack alarms and give them out for free, I’d encourage anyone to get one of those.”

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Probe launched after woman touched inappropriately at bus station

The man has been described as white, about 6ft 2ins tall, aged in his mid-30s to early-40s, of slim build and was wearing black and white Adidas trainers, dark blue jeans and a dark blue hooded jumper.

Luke Mackenzie, deputy mayor, said: “It is shocking this is going on, and it does make people nervous to go out. But you can’t let them win.

“People should stay vigilant and go about their daily lives as best they can, don’t let them stop you from living your life.

“I’d encourage anyone who may have seen anything or remembers anything to please contact the police.

“It happened at a busy time and you’d hope any businesses with CCTV nearby could share this with police and help identify the man.”

Anyone with information on the incident can call 101 and cite crime reference 42/197275/21.