POLICE are hunting a sex attacker who assaulted a woman as she walked through a tunnel.

The incident happened at around 8.50pm on Sunday on Melrosegate in York as the victim, in her 20s, was walking along the tunnel.

She was going from the direction of Tang Hall Lane towards James Street, when she first noticed a man edging towards her as she walked past him.

When the victim reached the part of the cycle path that forks in to two, just prior to James Street, she looked behind her and saw the same man walking towards her, and he then started running towards her.

When he reached the victim, he put his right arm around her shoulders and groped her with his left arm.

The victim tried to get her attacker off her by pulling his hair. She bit his thumb area and shouted at him and hit him in the face. The victim ran away towards Morrisons and the offender ran off in the opposite direction along the cycle path.

The offender is described as a man aged 19-20 years old, around 6ft 2ins tall with mousy brown, ear length, messy hair with a sweeping fringe.

He is believed to have a defined jaw line with a thin face and is of slim build, wearing black baggy bottoms and a black Superdry anorak with the hood up and Velcro under the chin.

  • Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information, is asked to contact police on 101, select option two and ask to speak to DC Lindsay Bell or email Lyndsay.bell@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
  • Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.