A woman was saved from a brutal late-night sex attack at a Christchurch park when a passing street-sweeper scared off her attacker.
The woman in her 20s had stopped her car at Nunweek Park about 2.30am to use the public toilet.
After finding it locked, she was attacked from behind, pushed to the ground, head-butted and hit in the face.
"While on the ground her attacker has attempted to sexually assault the woman, but was disturbed by a passing street-sweeping machine," said Detective Sergeant Richard Quested today.
"The woman clawed at the man's face and pushed him off, and was able to run back to her car and drive away.