A PUBLIC safety boss is concerned at how a man who sexually assaulted a woman got inside her flat despite very tight security.

Police were contacted shortly after 4am on Thursday with reports a man had forced entry to a flat near to Marsh Crescent and High Street, in Rowhedge.

A woman inside reported she had been sexually assaulted.

She is now being supported by specialist officers.

Mike Lilley, Colchester councillor responsible for public safety whose ward also covers Rowhedge, labelled it “a scary situation”.

He said: “There’s a lot of flats there and they have entrance locks on them.

“You also have to be let in by the person who is in the flat.

“The doors are open until about 10am and then they are closed to the public, except for residents.

“It’s a worry that the person was able to get through that security.”

Officers are carrying out enquiries and are keen to speak to anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the incident, or has any CCTV footage.

Mr Lilley said he saw the police helicopter out and police had cordoned off the area.

He added: “They were obviously looking for somebody. I have asked everybody to keep the latch on their doors and only answer the door to people they know.

“It’s a scary thing to happen to anybody and hopefully he is caught fairly soon or he hands himself in.

“You never know what is going to happen in this day and age, attacking people is not on and God forbid it happens again.”

Anyone with information should contact the North Major Crime Team on 101 or email scd.appeals.essex@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.