THE mother of a six-year-old boy who was indecently assaulted wept today as she begged for help in catching her son's attacker.

And the 29-year-old mum insisted: "He is destroying the lives and the innocence of children and wrecking families."

The boy was playing at Brunshaw Primary School when he was grabbed and indecently assaulted by the man, who had a mountain bike. The same man is also believed to be responsible for four other incidents involving young boys in the Burnley area.

His mum, who has other children but can not be identified for legal reasons, said: "At first he found it funny but that was just his age. As soon as we got to the police station it started to hit him as to what was actually going on.

"There must be someone who knows who he is or has their suspicions of who he is. Please contact the police and let them know.

"Half of the things he told the police he had never said to me. I hope someone is going to come forward and say who he is because he is wrecking people's lives.

"My husband won't talk about it, he keeps saying to me that I have to put it to the back of mind, but how can I knowing he is still out there and is still wrecking people's lives and hurting them." She said her whole family had been in counselling since her son's ordeal, at 6pm on Saturday March 17.

"He is getting very upset and he keeps on talking about what happened, we keep trying to change the subject because we don't know how to handle it. It is very upsetting to me.

"He is a shy little boy and he is now going into his shell even more. When it happened he was frightened to be with adults. He wouldn't even sit near his dad on the sofa."

She said the ordeal had also upset her son's sleeping pattern.

"Every night he goes to bed he comes up with an excuse to come back downstairs and eventually only when he has fallen asleep downstairs can I carry him back up to his bed.

"My oldest child seems to understand what has happened and he is very protective towards his brother offering to accompany him when he wants to go out to play.

"Every time I go out I find myself looking every man I see and wondering if they are the one. I just want my children to be able to play out in safety."

The incidents have all happened in or near play areas in local parks and involve a man in 'professional' cycling gear riding a mountain bike, predominantly red with black tyres and straight handlebars. An 11-year-old has helped police with an artist's impression.

The other incidents being investigated are:

Wednesday, February 21, about 3.40pm, indecent exposure in front of young teenagers playing tennis in Queens Park

Saturday, February 24, about 4pm, indecent exposure to young boys in Towneley Park

Sunday, March 4, 3pm, Towneley Park, indecent exposure to young boys

Thursday, March 15, 6pm, gross indecency, inviting young boys to join in an indecent act

At each incident, the man has been described as wearing cycle clothing including black lycra shorts, a green, red and black cycling jacket and a mostly red and blue cycling helmet possibly with a Raleigh motif. His bike is mostly red with straight handlebars.

The man is white, aged 25 to 35, slim, medium build, with short dark hair and possibly a moustache.

Anyone with information should contact 01282 425001.