A WOULD-BE rapist is being hunted after a woman was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning as she walked through Middlesbrough.

The 42-year-old victim was as approached by the suspect close to a Royal Cars taxi rank on Marton Road and she walked with the male from Park Vale Road onto Angle Street and then onto Whitfield Avenue, where the attempted rape took place.

The attack took place between 4am and 4.30am on Whitfield Avenue, a path that runs off Angle Street close to Marton Road.

Police want to speak to a man who may have been stood near to the Royal Cars taxi rank when the woman was approached by the suspect as he could have vital information.

The potential witness is described as a white male, aged in his late forties to early fifties, of medium build with ‘short back and sides’ hair style and wearing blue jeans and a red top.

Detective Inspector Matt Murphy-King, from Cleveland Police Major Crime Team, said: “If anyone believes that they may have sighted a man matching the description of the suspect around the time of the incident then we also need to hear from you, or anyone who may have private CCTV in the area of Park Vale Road and Angle Street."

The suspect is described as a white male, aged 25-27 years old, around 5ft 8ins tall, English speaking with possibly an Eastern-European accent, blond hair which was parted and styled with gel with shaven sides and medium or athletic build. He was wearing a navy blue, shiny waist-length jacket fastened with a zip to the top, grey or blue jeans and bright white Nike Air Max trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police Major Crime Team on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111 or crimestoppers-uk.org