Lower Hutt Police continue to investigate Ava rail bridge incident

Lower Hutt Police are continuing to investigate a serious assault with suspected sexual overtones in the vicinity of the Ava rail bridge at about 5:30pm on Wednesday night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell of the Lower Hutt CIB says the 25 year old female victim was approached by a male, who grabbed her hair.

"The offender was armed with a knife, however, the victim screamed and was able to get free of the offender, and he then ran through Memorial Park towards Wilford Primary School."

Detective Senior Sergeant Borrell says Police have been overwhelmed with the response from the public since the incident on Wednesday night and have spoken to a number of witnesses throughout the course of yesterday.

He says, "This critical information has assisted us hugely in locating several articles including a hooded sweatshirt. We are still searching for a pink cell phone thought to be discarded by this man in the vicinity of the Ava rail bridge.”

"We haven't ruled out the possibility that this incident is linked to two other attacks of a similar nature in the same area in April and May this year, or two recent indecent assaults of young females in the Naenae area over the past six weeks."

The offender is described as Pacific or Maori in his early twenties, tall, of solid athletic build, wearing sunglasses, a baggy hooded sweatshirt, black baggy pants and skate-style shoes.

Detective Senior Sergeant Borrell says the victim in Wednesday night's incident was left shaken but unhurt.

"We are working hard to identify and locate this offender before any further incidents occur and would like to continue to hear from anyone in the area at the time of the incident or from people who think they may recognise the description of this person, clothing or who may have recovered the pink cell phone."

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Lower Hutt Police on (04) 560 2600 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.