Canal path scoured after foiled attack

A TEAM of police officers have been searching the area of the Union Canal where a sex attacker pounced on a schoolgirl, who jumped into the water to escape.

Officers scoured the canal footpath at Ratho yesterday in a search for evidence.

A police spokeswoman appealed again for anyone who was travelling on the X12 Lothian Bus, which stopped in Ratho at around 5.30pm on Wednesday, to come forward.

The 15-year-old victim had been travelling on the bus before walking along the footpath to visit the nearby climbing centre. The suspect is believed to have been another passenger on the bus.

The girl was grabbed from behind by the man, who was exposing himself to her.

The teenager’s mum said: “My daughter is OK. She is being incredibly brave and I hope the police catch the man before he hurts someone.”