POLICE are looking for a man who verbally abused a woman and followed her while she was walking with her young daughter in Poole. The incident happened in the High Street at around 9.20pm on Thursday, November 15.

The woman was walking with her four-year-old daughter in the direction of Poole Quay when she noticed a man standing in an alleyway near to The Salvation Army charity shop.

The man was verbally abusive towards the woman so she ran away. He followed her a short distance towards the traffic lights at Old Orchard.

The woman went into Sainsbury’s at Orchard Plaza to seek assistance and did not see the man again.

He is described as white, aged in his 40s, around six feet tall, of slim build and clean shaven with black shoulder-length hair. He was wearing black round-framed glasses, a navy blue coat and slim-fit jeans and was carrying a blue bag.

Police Constable Riona Hanley, of Poole police, said: “This must have been a distressing incident for the woman, particularly as she was with her four-year-old child, and we are carrying out a number of enquiries to identify the man involved."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw a man matching the description given in the area at the relevant time, is asked to contact police.

“I would also urge the man involved to come forward so he can assist with our investigation," PC Hanley added.