DETECTIVES leading the hunt for a sex attacker who raped an Accrington schoolgirl believe he searched the area for a victim.
A man fitting the description of the rapist was spotted spying on schoolgirls in the Queen's Road area about an hour before the 15-year-old was attacked.
Detective Inspector Tony Green said: "A member of the public has come forward to say they saw a man fitting the description of the rapist in the Queen's Road area watching school girls.
"Queen's Road is close to the area where the rape took place and it would appear that this is the same man and that he was planning his attack.
"We would like to hear from anyone else who may have seen this person and they should contact us as soon as possible."
A person seen by the young victim walking their dogs close to where the rape happened has still not been traced.
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