POLICE are urging anyone who saw a man staring at a woman in the street to come forward.

They made the appeal after pubs in Patcham voiced fears female staff and customers may be at risk when walking home.

Yesterday, The Argus reported how both The Long Man of Wilmington in Carden Avenue, and the Ladies Mile pub in Mackie Avenue, have taken steps to make sure women are escorted from the premises and get home safely.

Managers acted after a series of incidents in the area.

These included a woman reporting to police that a man was staring at her just before 9.30am on Friday as she walked along Carden Avenue.

Police said she approached another member of the public and asked to be escorted to her destination. The man was white, aged between 30 and 40, 6ft tall, stocky with short blond hair.

The Long Man said a staff member’s relative believed she was followed home by someone in a cream Mini in the last few weeks.

On June 25, a 44-year-old woman was walking along the A23 London Road nearby towards Brighton from the BP roundabout at around 12.30am when she was approached by a man. He linked arms with her but then pushed her to the ground, threatening and raping her. The attacker was white, in his twenties or thirties with mousy hair, wearing a dark jacket, jeans and dark blue trainers.

Call police on 101 quoting 356 of 08/09 if you have any information.