A WOMAN who was assaulted in an attempted sexual attack in Bournemouth has appealed directly to the public to help find him.

The woman, in her 20s, was attacked around 7.07pm last Tuesday, along Boundary Road.

She was walking along Norton Road, just past Fernside Road toward the footbridge over Boundary Road, when a man approached her from behind.

The victim, who was pushed to the ground, screamed and the offender got on to his bike and rode off in the direction of Redhill Park.

She said: “The attack I suffered was a scary and horrible experience. I was just walking like normal when this happened.

“I don’t want anyone else to go through this and I would urge anyone who has any information that can help to please go to the police.”

The same man is believed to have been responsible for a similar incident the following day and detectives believe they were sexually motivated and are investigating them as sexual assaults.

The second incident happened at around 10.30pm last Wednesday when a woman was running along a footpath in a wooded area at Slades Farm when she was approached from behind by an unknown man who grabbed her ponytail and pushed her to the ground.

Detective Sergeant Dave Colomb, of the Serious Sex Offences Team at Dorset Police, said: “These crimes have had a great impact on both victims and we are committed to identifying the offender.

“I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed either incident or saw a man acting suspiciously in both areas at the relevant time.

"No matter how small you feel your information may be, please get in touch as it may prove vital to our investigation.

“Finally, it may be that someone you know was behaving differently or acting suspiciously before or after these offences took place. If you suspect they may have been involved please contact Dorset Police on 101."