Police hope identikit sketch may help identify offender in attempted abduction and sexual assault

Wellington Police are continuing to investigate an attempted abduction and sexual assault on an 18 year old in the early hours of 5 June 2011.

At around 4:30am on Sunday 5 June, the 18 year old female was walking home from Courtenay Place, along a pathway inside the Basin Reserve off Cambridge Terrace.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Perry of the Wellington CIB says the victim noticed a man acting suspiciously.

"The offender has then followed the victim and grabbed her from behind as she was exiting the Basin Reserve on Rugby Street. The offender attempted to grab the victim several times."

Acting D/S/S Perry says the offender then grabbed the victim a further time and dragged her a short distance.

"The victim was then sexually assaulted and has struggled for about a minute, scratching and biting the offender to make her escape. At this point, the offender then released the victim, and she ran off onto Rugby Street."

Acting D/S/S/ Perry says an identikit sketch was developed yesterday afternoon, after the victim was re-interviewed by Police.

"We hope the public may be able to assist us in identifying this offender. He is described as very slim, more than five foot seven in height, with dark short spiky hair, of Middle Eastern descent."

"This was a terrifying incident which has left the victim shaken. We want help from the public to help identify this offender, who will possibly still have scratch marks to his arms and a bite to his right hand."

Anyone with any information should phone Wellington Police on (04) 381 2000 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.