Woman is attacked in alleyway

Police are appealing for witnesses after the 38-year-old woman was assaulted in Chichester on Saturday night.

The victim was walking home alone after a night out, along an alleyway that links St Paul’s Road and Duncan Road, when she was grabbed from behind and forced to the floor at about 10.30pm.

She managed to break free and punch the suspect in the face before running off, suffering scratches to her neck and chest, police said.

The suspect was a skinny white man, 6ft, aged in his late 30s or early 40s, with short dark hair and stubble.

He also had a prominent Adam’s apple, dark bushy eyebrows with dark hair on the back of his hands and he was wearing a dark jacket and brown deck shoes.

Detective Sergeant John Kalli, from Sussex police, said: ‘This was an isolated incident which has left the victim understandably shaken, but fortunately she was not seriously hurt. We need to speak with anyone who was in the area and may have seen something suspicious.’

Witnesses should call 101.