An attacker who tried to drag a woman into bushes in an attempted sexual assault is being hunted by Brentwood Police.

Now women are being advised to take extra care while walking alone at night, following the "nasty attack" which happened in the early hours of the morning in a residential area.

The 29-year-old woman was grabbed at 1.10am on Friday, as she walked home from Brentwood railway station.

She was accosted by the man in Regency Crescent, close to the High Street at its junction with Crown Street. He put his hand over her mouth and tried to drag her into nearby bushes, but she struggled free and shouted for help - and he, luckily, walked off.

Det Sgt Kerry Bennion, of Brentwood CID, said the woman was physically unharmed, but he was treating the incident as an attempted sexual assault.

The suspect, whose e-fit is shown above, is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall and in his early twenties. He had dark, short hair and was wearing a white shirt, dark trousers and a black round neck bomber jacket. He had an eastern European accent.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "We don't want to cause any alarm but we would advise women that if they've got to walk home at that time of night, then they should keep to well lit areas and preferably, if they can, carry a personal alarm.

"They should not go into any dark alleyways and they should keep their wits about them. Brentwood is a relatively safe area and we think it's an isolated incident, but it's possible he could strike again."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any information, should call Det Sgt Bennion at Brentwood Police Station on 01277 262212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

A police e-ffit of the attacker

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