Cheerleaders get safety tips from cops

Visit to group follows spate of incidents in Linwood

Community cops visited a cheerleading group to offer safety advice to youngsters following a spate of sinister incidents.

Officers attended a session at the Solid Rock Cheer and Gym in Linwood after a creep targeted a woman in the area.

As reported in the Paisley Daily Express, the gym organised a special self- defence class after three woman were subjected to frightening encounters in woodland close to the ON-X Sports Centre.

A 14- year- old girl was also sexually assaulted in the woods on April 21 after she became separated from her pals in a separate crime.

Police Scotland have been carrying out high visibility patrols in the area since and have moved to reassure members of the public they are doing everything they can to trace the suspects.

PC Martin Norwood was joined at the special safety session at the Solid Rock Cheer and Gym by PC Brian Dick and PC Paul Mullan.

PC Norwood said: “From our point of view, all the girls were very attentive when we were speaking to them, asking very good questions.

“Parents of some of the girls were also present and again they were asking questions and were very pro-police with regards to identifying the person.

“They all understood that the police were on the case, so to speak, and were grateful for our attendance.

“We may return in the coming weeks to check in on them.”

Police are investigating after a number of incidents involving a prowler approaching women in the area.

A 52-year-old dog walker was battered by a man in Linwood Moss on Monday, April 16, at around 4pm.

The thug struck up a conversation with the victim before launching an unprovoked attack.

Just five days later a 14-year-old girl was subjected to a sickening sex attack in woodland close to the ON-X Sports Centre.

She became separated from her friend at around 9.45pm on Saturday April, 21 when she was attacked.

Cops swarmed the area after reports a man had jumped out of bushes in front of another dog walker near Moss Road on Wednesday, May 9.

And on Friday, May 25, a 57-year-old was approached in the woods by a stranger who tried to beckon her dog to him.

The suspect is described as male, slim, 5ft 8ins, with dark, bushy hair and was wearing a bottle green hoody with gold writing and blue jeans.

If you have any information, you should contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

They all understood that the police were on the case