A sex attack victim today urged people to help catch her assailant before he destroys someone - as police revealed that he may already have struck again.

The 37-year-old nurse, speaking out a week after being assaulted in York city centre, said she managed to escape because she was fit and strong.

But she feared another woman - perhaps his next victim - would not be able to do the same.

"I just want him caught before he destroys somebody," she said, urging anyone with any information who has not yet contacted police to do so straight away. "People must come forward, otherwise it's going to happen again."

Detectives hunting the attacker said today that the same man may have been responsible for another assault which happened at 7.10pm last Saturday in Thanet Road, Acomb.

Det Con Ian Murray said the man, who had a very similar appearance to the St Andrewgate assailant, stopped in front of a 26-year-old woman as she was walking near the Turf Tavern and lunged at her. He grabbed her behind the knees and lifted her up, thrusting his body at her with a clear sexual motive. The pair fell over and the woman was able to escape.

The victim described him as 6ft tall, slim and pale, aged about 35, with short dark hair. The St Andrewgate attacker was described as about 6ft tall, slim, and pale, with short, dark hair. And when the Acomb victim saw an E-fit in Wednesday's Evening Press of him, she contacted police to say he looked just like her assailant.

DC Murray said police were keeping an open mind over a possible connection between the two incidents.

The first assault hit the Evening Press headlines on Wednesday when the victim's mother wrote to the paper to challenge the attacker about the effect of the attack on her daughter and on her work as a nurse. The victim told the Evening Press she had found the incident a shattering experience. "I feel very vulnerable," she added.

DC Murray said there had been a good response to the publicity but more information was still needed.

Anyone with information should call police on York 669389.

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