Basin sex attack prompts identikit pic

An identikit sketch of the offender wanted for an attempted abduction and sexual assault at the Basin Reserve at the weekend. Photo / supplied

Wellington police are hoping an identikit sketch may help identify the offender in attempted abduction and sexual assault at the Basin Reserve at the weekend.

The 18-year-old victim was walking home from Courtenay Place about 4.30am on Sunday when she was grabbed from behind as she left the southern entrance of the Basin, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Perry of the Wellington CIB said.

The offender tried to grab her several times and dragged her a short distance before he sexually assaulted her, he said.

"[She] has struggled for about a minute, scratching and biting the offender to make her escape. At this point, the offender then released the victim, and she ran off onto Rugby Street."

Mr Perry said that after interviewing the victim again, police yesterday developed an identikit sketch, in an attempt to identify the man, who was described as very slim, more than 1.67m tall, with dark short spiky hair and of Middle Eastern descent.

"This was a terrifying incident which has left the victim shaken. We want help from the public to help identify this offender, who will possibly still have scratch marks to his arms and a bite to his right hand."

- NZPA