POLICE are hunting a pervert who indecently assaulted two teenage girls on a bus in Basingstoke.

The man followed a 16-year-old girl from stand 16 at Basingstoke bus station onto the number 5 bus at 2.50pm on Tuesday, January 10, and sat down next to her.

Police said that, during the journey to Buckskin via Kempshott, the man indecently assaulted the girl in full view of the other passengers. She moved away from him but he continued to touch her indecently from the seat behind.

A second girl, aged 14, boarded the bus at the train station at 2.55pm. The man followed her to the back of the bus and indecently assaulted her too.

The man then got off in Buckskin, near the parade of local shops.

Pc Kevin Mott said: "Both girls have been badly shaken by the incident and I am appealing to people who were on the bus at the time to come forward.

"I would particularly like to hear from an older woman who was on the bus and comforted the first girl who was assaulted."

The offender is described as a heavily-built Asian, 5ft 8in, aged 35 to 40, with short cropped black hair and bulging, crossed eyes.

Anyone with information should contact Basingstoke police on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.

First published: Monday, January 30, 2006