A woman fought off a sex attacker in a busy town centre street in Hove at the weekend, Sussex Police said today (Tuesday 22 November).
The 21-year-old woman was left shocked and scared after the struggle in Church Road, Hove, which happened between Misty’s and the corner of St Aubyns as she was heading home.
Sussex Police said: “Police are appealing for witnesses to a sexual assault in a Hove street.
“At about 2.45am on Saturday (19 November) a 21-year-old woman was walking home along Church Road in Hove when she was attacked by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her over her clothing in a struggle, during which the victim managed to fight him off and ran away along Church Road.
“The offender is described as white, about 19 to 23, wearing dark trousers and a hooded top.”
Detective Constable Tom Coll, of the Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a woman who was walking in what was still quite a busy area of Hove, even at that time of night.
“She was left very shocked and scared by what happened to her.
“At this time we believe this is an isolated incident and are not linking this to any other investigations.
“CCTV in the area shows quite a lot of people around at the time of the offence so I’m hoping someone will have seen what happened.”
Anyone with information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101 or report it at https://sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal quoting serial 199 of 19/11.
Witnesses can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
