DETECTIVES investigating the attempted rape of a woman in Braintree have released this CCTV image of a man they want to question.
The woman, in her 40s and from the town, met a man at The Lounge pub and had gone outside with him when he subsequently attacked her.
She managed to fight him off and call the police, who are treating the inquiry as a rape investigation. And although the victim was unharmed, she remains badly shaken and is still frightened of going out on her own.
DC Andrew Crouch of the North Sexual Offences Investigation Team said: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by a man the victim had only just met at The Lounge. She doesn't know him at all.
"The woman had been out with friends and they arrived at The Lounge at about midnight.
"We believe that the suspect had been at the Lounge some time before the woman arrived.
"We believe that other people at The Lounge might know who the suspect is and his name."
The incident happened at about 1.55am on Saturday, July 12, in an alleyway behind The Lounge in Market Place. The suspect is described as white, about 5ft 9in tall, of medium build and he was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt with a printed image on the front.
Anyone who knows the man in the CCTV picture should contact DC Crouch or his colleagues at the SOIT North office on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
