Outcry at Brand\'s \'joke\' call to police hunting sex fiend

Tag : police cap

'I have got some information for you. I've seen a gentleman whofits the description.

'He was wearing a lime green top and polka- dot trousers, and Ithought, "Well, look at the state of him".'

The audience laughed as Brand went on: 'I've had someone come nearmy underpass.

'He was dressed absolutely atrociously, he looked like TimmyMallett.'

He told the operator the sound of laughter was coming from anepisode of The Bill on television, and that his name was Sarah.

But Brand's antics were bitterly criticised. Lynda Yorke, ofLeicester Rape Crisis, said: 'I don't think that's particularlyamusing. It's in very poor taste.

The issue of sexual assault is often belittled and such callousbehaviour is extremely hurtful to the victims.'

The first underpass attack took place at 7.30am on 23 June.

A 24-year-old mother was pushing a buggy when a man grabbed her andpulled at her clothes.
On the evening of July 3, another woman, 28, was forced into analcove in the underpass and pinned up against the wall, where herattacker tried to kiss her. She managed to escape.

Police are keeping an open mind as to whether this attack is linkedwith another on a woman of 50 at the same spot 12 days later.

Yesterday, Brand apologised. He said: 'I appreciate the seriousnessof the issue and am devastated by the possibility that I may haveoffended vulnerable people.

'I maintain that through discourse we can illuminate these darkbehaviours but that ought not to be at the expense of people'sfeelings.'

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: 'We would discourageanyone from making calls such as this.'