Twenty victims of violent attacker

1:10pm Saturday 19th July 2008

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A violent man wanted for a series of attacks on women may have struck more than 20 times.

Detectives have linked 16 assaults going back to August 2006 to the same man and are investigating five more.

The victims have all been grabbed, punched or hit with a weapon as they walked or cycled home in the early hours.

A major inquiry was launched after two attacks in the Hastings area in a single week in May. The victims, all women between 16 and 33, were not robbed or sexually assaulted.

Ten attacks were originally thought to have been carried out by the same man.

This week Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles confirmed six more had been added to the list and another five are being explored.

All the offences took place in Hastings.

The most recent attack was on May 21.

DCI Bowles said: The willingness of this man to use unprovoked violence against women is a great concern and we urgently need to find the man responsible.

"Attacks of this nature are unusual and it is for this reason that this pattern of offending stands out.

"We must find this man and I need the help of the public in giving me the information as to who and where he is."

The man is described as white, probably in his 20s or 30s and possibly muscular, with dark hair.

A £10,000 reward is being offered to find the man.

The reward is being offered by Sussex Police and Sussex Crimestoppers, with them each offering £5,000 for the arrest and conviction of the man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.