DETECTIVES are searching for a man who performed a sex act on himself in front of a lone woman last week.

The victim, who is in her 60s, was walking along Queens Park Avenue in Bournemouth close to the junction with Queens Park West Drive between 6pm and 7pm on Thursday, January 11 when the incident took place.

She became aware of a man standing in a hedge on the golf course and continued walking.

As she reached the junction of Broad Avenue, she checked behind her and saw the man performing an act while shining a torch on himself.

As the victim approached Linkside Avenue, the man appeared via a cut-through in the hedge. He was no longer exposing himself, but made a sexual comment to the woman.

The man is described as white but with an olive complexion, over six feet tall, of slim build and aged in his late 20s or early 30s. He was wearing a dark-coloured jacket and trousers. He spoke with a European accent.

PC Calum Maton, of Dorset Police, said: “Enquiries are underway to identify the offender including CCTV, house-to-house visits and high-visibility patrols.

"I would urge anyone who was in the area at the relevant time and saw a man acting suspiciously to please contact Dorset Police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180005876.