Island detectives are continuing to investigate a report of an assault on a woman in Newport.

A 23-year-old woman from Newport contacted police to say she was approached by a man she did not know at approximately 1.40am on Thursday, November 18. The victim was in an alleyway next to Nine Acres Primary School, walking from Trafalgar Road towards Elm Grove, when she noticed a man behind her.

He approached the victim and grabbed her around the waist. The woman managed to free herself from his grip and ran out of the alleyway into Elm Grove. She was not injured.

The attacker was described as aged in his 20s or 30s, with short hair and wearing a thick fur coat, which was wet from the rain.

Detective Constable Lee Torrance of Isle of Wight CID said: “The woman was not hurt but she is understandably upset by the assault and her concerns that it could have been worse if she had not been able to run away.

“We are keen to hear from anyone with information about the suspect’s identity or who may remember seeing a man acting suspiciously in the Trafalgar Road area of Newport during the early hours of Thursday.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Lee Torrance at Newport Police Station by phoning 101.