Lower Hutt assaults may be linked

The victim in Wednesday's incident was left shaken but unhurt. File photo / NZ Herald

Lower Hutt police are investigating a serious assault with "suspected sexual overtones" near the Ava rail bridge on Wednesday night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell said the 25-year-old woman was approached by a man, who grabbed her hair, about 5.30pm.

"The offender was armed with a knife, however, the victim screamed and was able to get free of the offender, and he then ran through Memorial Park towards Wilford Primary School."

Mr Borrell said police have spoken to a number of witnesses since the incident.

"This critical information has assisted us hugely in locating several articles including a hooded sweatshirt. We are still searching for a pink cell phone thought to be discarded by this man in the vicinity of the Ava rail bridge."

Mr Borrell said police has not ruled out the possibility the incident is linked to similar attacks in April and May, or two recent indecent assaults on young women in the Naenae area over the past six weeks.

The offender is described as Pacific or Maori in his early twenties, tall, of solid athletic build, wearing sunglasses, a baggy hooded sweatshirt, black baggy pants and skate-style shoes.

Mr Borrell said the victim in Wednesday's incident was left shaken but unhurt.

"We are working hard to identify and locate this offender before any further incidents occur and would like to continue to hear from anyone in the area at the time of the incident or from people who think they may recognise the description of this person, clothing or who may have recovered the pink cell phone."

- Herald Online staff