Last updated 20:09, Tuesday, 02 September 2008

Police are investigating whether an attack on a 19-year-old in Whitehaven had a sexual motive.

• Images: more photos of the scene

The scene of the attack

The woman was walking home along New Road, near Central Motorcycles, at 5am yesterday, when she was approached by a man who started a conversation with her then grabbed her from behind and tried to drag her down a pathway between New Road and Wellington Road.

The woman, who lives in Whitehaven, struggled and managed to break away from the man and run in the direction of the town centre.

Police said there were similarities between the attack and two other sex assaults in west Cumbria in the past six weeks because they were all “stranger attacks” on teenage girls walking home alone.

Detective Superintendent Cath Thundercloud, who is leading the investigation into the three incidents, said officer are keeping an open mind over whether the attacks are linked.

She said: “There are similarities between the three offences. One is that they are stranger attacks, so we are running one investigation so we don’t miss anything.”

Det Supt Thundercloud said that it could be the same offender.

The attacker involved in yesterday’s incident is described as about 6ft tall, wearing a dark hooded jacket with grey trousers or jogging bottoms.

The police and crime scene investigators carried out a forensic and fingertip search of the area, looking for anything that the attacker might have dropped or left at the scene.

New Road was reopened to the public at 7.30pm yesterday.

Det Supt Thundercloud has issued a warning to women across west Cumbria to take extra steps to ensure their personal safety at this time.

She said: “It is extremely rare for three incidents of this nature to occur in west Cumbria and I am heading up a team of over 30 detectives dedicated to catching whoever is responsible.

“All three incidents involved three young girls walking home alone in the hours of darkness so we are urging women across west Cumbria to be mindful of their personal safety when out and about.”

Police are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who was in the New Road or Whitehaven town centre area between 4.45am and 5.15am yesterday who may have seen the offender.

The number 30 bus was in the town at the time and passengers may have seen something.

Det Supt Thundercloud added that there will also have been a number of delivery drivers around the area who may have spotted someone acting suspiciously at that time.

“We are also asking for anyone whose partner, brother, son or friend came home around that time in suspicious circumstances to come forward.

“Someone out there knows who this man is and we need them to let us know, either anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or to my team direct on 0845 3300 247,” she added.

The first serious sex attack took place on Mossbay Road, Workington on July 31.

The girl was walking alone along the road between 10pm and 10.30pm when she was approached by a man, who started talking to her then dragged her off the road behind bushes and subjected her to a serious sexual assault.

The offender is described as between 18 and 26 years old, of athletic build, around 6ft tall. He had a tattoo on his right hand and a possible injury to his right thumb. He had a shaved left eyebrow and a local accent.

The second attack took place just after 4am on August 11 when a 16-year-old girl was walking home from work along Hunter Street, Workington.

She was punched from behind by a man and dragged into an alley where it is believed the man intended to commit a sex assault against her.

The victim managed to grab her mobile phone and as a result the man ran off in the direction of Gray Street.

Police are urging women across west Cumbria to take extra steps to ensure their personal safety.

These include not going out alone after dark, keeping to well lit areas, and carrying a charged mobile phone. Women are also urged to inform someone of their intended route and expected return time.