POLICE are hunting a man in his 30s suspected of attacking three women since July.

Officers have released CCTV images of the suspect taken from two of the attacks, which they believed are linked.

The suspect, aged in his late 30s and tall with flat black Afro-style hair, has targeted women in Brighton and tried to engage them in conversation before sexually assaulting them.

He kissed one of his victims on the lips.

The victims told officers that the suspect spoke with "broken English".

The first attack took place on Wednesday, July 24.

The man, who is described as mixed race, approached a 22-year-old woman on Ditchling Road, Brighton as she reached the junction with Princess Street at 1.35am.

The man tried to speak with the woman before sexually assaulting her and escaping along London Road.

The second victim, an 18-year-old woman, was sitting outside All Bar One in the Pavillion Buildings area outside Pavillion Gardens at 6.25pm on Saturday, October 5.

The suspect tried to speak with the woman before grabbing her and kissing her on the lips. The victim pushed the man off before he ran away.

The third attack happened on Marine Parade at 5.30am on Sunday, October 6. Again, the suspect tried to engage the victim, this time a 19-year-old woman, in conversation.

He attacked the woman at the junction of Seymour Street before running off.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said today: "Officers in Brighton believe the same man may be responsible for three sexual assaults on women in the city.

"We have published CCTV images obtained from near to two of the incidents, hoping that people may recognise him.

"The most recent incident took place when the 19-year-old victim was walking east along the north pavement in Marine Parade, Brighton, at about 5.30am when she was approached by the man who first tried to engage her in conversation and then attacked her at the junction of Seymour Street.

"She resisted and after some moments she managed to struggle free and ran off. The man was described as of mixed race and wearing square-rimmed glasses. One image shows the suspect walking away immediately after the attack.

"Barely 24 hours before that attack, shortly after 6.25pm on Saturday October 5, an 18-year-old woman was sitting on a bench outside All Bar One in the Pavilion Buildings area just outside Pavilion Gardens in the city centre, when she was approached by a man. He first engaged her in conversation then grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. She pushed him away and ran off, very shaken but unhurt.

"The man was described as black, slim, about 6ft tall, wearing a black tracksuit possibly with white stripes down the arms. An image published by police shows the suspect walking in Pavilion Buildings immediately before this attack."

Detective Inspector Duncan Elliott, heading Operation Downgate, said: "These were very frightening experiences for the women, who have been receiving support and assistance from specialist officers.

"We have issued these two images in the hope someone may recognise or identify the man in either of the images and will be able to assist with the ongoing intensive investigation which began in July.

"If you were in the areas at those times and saw anything of the incidents, even without perhaps realising what was happening at the time, or if you saw any other suspicious activity or can help us identify this man, please contact us.

"We have been carrying out very thorough and detailed inquiries into these attacks including visits to all addresses nearby and the victims have also been receiving support from specialist officers, but so far the assailant has not been traced.

"From several similarities in the descriptions in each case and the circumstances of the attacks, including other information, we believe they may well be linked."