A 20-YEAR-OLD man was sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint during a 40-minute ordeal in a busy town centre.

The victim was marched to a cashpoint in Stockton town centre and forced to withdraw and hand over cash.

He was described by police as very traumatised.

The initial assault, during which the man was made to hand over jewellery, took place in the High Street/Finkle Street area, below the spiral ramp off the Castlegate Centre.

Police were yesterday examining closed-circuit television footage of the crime scene and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Inspector Steve Bakewell said that despite intensive work over the weekend, police have still not made a breakthrough.

He said: "This was a very serious attack which occurred in the middle of Stockton, though the road where it happened was not very busy at the time.

"We have not heard of any similar attack in this area, but this was a serious sexual assault which lasted a long time. As you can imagine, the man is very traumatised by the experience.

"We need anyone with any information, whether they were witnesses, heard anything or have any suspicions at all, to contact us as a matter of urgency."

The victim, who had been dragged to the area below the car ramp, has not been identified.

The assault took place between 8.15pm and 8.55pm onThursday. The attacker left his victim at the Alliance and Leicester bank and ran off along the High Street, past McDonalds and into Wellington Square.

The robber was white, about 25 years old, with short brown hair brushed forward. He was clean-shaven and weighed about 12 to 13st. He was wearing a red-hooded Gap sweatshirt-type top, navy blue tracksuit bottoms with zips up the sides and white training shoes. He spoke with a local accent.

Anyone with any information about the attack is asked to call PC Ian Sirs, on (01642) 302226.