Woman slashed in park sex attack

By AINSLEY THOMSON

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in a busy Auckland park yesterday morning used a large jagged shard of glass to cut her face.

The daylight attack at Albert Park is believed to have been seen by six people walking through the park about 9am.

The 18-year-old woman was at the Victoria St entrance to the park when the man grabbed her from behind.

He stopped her screaming by holding her throat and pinned her against a tree.

He pulled the glass from his pocket and raked it across her face three times, then sexually assaulted her.

She had about 20 deep scratches on her face, but did not need stitches.

The woman kneed the man in the groin and escaped.

Detective Constable Kellie Cochrane from the Auckland crime squad said the woman remembered seeing six people in the park, including two who tried to stop her to see if she was injured, as she ran from it.

"We would really like those people to come forward and help us identify this man."

The man is described as a stocky Pacific Islander or Maori, aged between 20 and 35.

He was wearing faded blue jeans, a navy or black singlet and a black baseball cap with "Chicago Bulls" written on it.

The incident was the second sex attack in Albert Park since Friday night. Police are trying to establish if they are connected.