Police search for flashing groper

A young woman was groped by a flasher while walking to a city backpackers in Christchurch last night, police say.

The 20-year-old woman was walking down Gloucester Street between Stanmore Road and Fitzgerald Ave about 10pm when she noticed a man outside a property near where she was headed.

As she passed him, he undid the zip on his pants and exposed himself, before groping her from behind as she tried to open the backpackers' door.

He ran off when she screamed.

The man was described as a Caucasian in his 20s with a "Kiwi" accent, about 175cm tall and of medium build.

He had black hair with blonde streaks and was wearing a black puffer jacket and jeans.

Police asked for anyone with information or who had suffered a similar incident to contact Detective Constable Donavan Aitken at Christchurch Police on (03) 363 7426.

- NZPA