POLICE say the actions of two women in fending off an attacker could have prevented a much more serious incident.
The women were approached by a man in Salisbury Terrace, near Wilson Street, Darlington, between 11.30pm and midnight on Sunday.
He grabbed one of the women and threatened both of them. One of the women managed to retaliate by scratching his face, and he ran off.
The man is described as white, 5ft 7in, well-built, with short dark hair.
He is thought to be in his thirties and spoke with a Darlington accent. He was wearing a light tracksuit top zipped up to the chin.
A spokesman for Darlington CID said: "It is fortunate that nothing more serious came out of this incident due to the actions of these two females.
"Despite other incidents in the town recently, we are not linking this with any of those."
Anyone who might have information about the attack is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article