Man quizzed over attacks on women

Updated 08.54 Mon Aug 11 2008

Keywords: attacks, police, Hastings

A man is being questioned by police over a series of violent assaults on teenage girls and young women.

He was arrested following an attack on a 38-year-old woman in Hastings, East Sussex, which left her needing hospital treatment.

Detectives said the attacker normally struck between 11pm and 3am and there appeared to be no sexual motive or anything stolen from the victims

Police believe the man may be responsible for more than 20 assaults on women in the town that have taken place since June 20 last year.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "At the scene of the attack police officers arrested a 26-year-old local man who was taken to Hastings Police Station.

"He will be interviewed about this and other similar attacks in Hastings being investigated within Operation Medium. He has not been charged as yet."

The latest attack took place at 10.02pm in a quiet footpath between St Helen's Road and St Helen's Crescent.

All the attacks have been carried out on women and girls who have been grabbed, punched or struck on the head as they walked or cycled late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Detectives said the attacker normally struck between 11pm and 3am and there appeared to be no sexual motive or anything stolen from the victims.

The victims have needed treatment for cuts, some of them serious, and bruises.

Last month Sussex Police offered a £10,000 reward to anyone who could provide information that led to the arrest and conviction of the man.