Police have said a boy, who could be as young as 12, may be responsible for a string of sex attacks around a university campus.
Two of the assaults happened on the same day, within 15 minutes of each other, and a third happened around two weeks later.
Greater Manchester Police are linking the attacks which have taken place in the last month near The University of Manchester and have released an evofit of the youngster they are looking for.
Police on Saturday said the attacker's young age made the assaults "very worrying" and dismissed the idea that they may have been a prank.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin said: "While we cannot be precise about the offender's age, we believe from the descriptions given to us by the women he assaulted that he was between 12 and 15-years-old, and it is obviously very unusual and very worrying that someone someone so young is committing such appalling attacks on women.
"What we can be certain about is that the women are traumatised as a result of what happened and are being offered support by specially trained officers.
"Whatever the young boy's motivation, this is not a practical joke or a prank.
"His actions are disturbing and he has caused the three women he assaulted a lot of upset. That is why it is so important we find whomever is responsible.
"We cannot allow these sexual assaults to escalate and we need to find him."
The first two attacks took place within 15 minutes of each other on Saturday September 21.
A 27-year-old was approached from behind and grabbed in Lloyd Street North at 6.15pm before she screamed and the offender ran off.
The next incident followed in Oxford Road, close to the old BBC building, when a 21-year-old woman was approached by a boy who made lewd comments.
She carried on walking on Moss Lane East and was sexually assaulted by her assailant who was described as a young Asian boy aged 12 who wore green jeans and glasses.
The third attack took place at the Manchester Science Park in Lloyd Street North at about 2.15pm on Saturday October 5.
A 32-year-old woman was approached by two young boys and sexually assaulted by one of them described as being Asian, 12 to 13 years old, of slim build, with a small frame who wore baggy trousers and carried a rucksack on his back.
She pushed the boy away but he approached her again and sexually assaulted her for a second time before running off towards Pencroft Way in company with the second child, also described as a young Asian boy.
