A FIFTH woman has been sexually assaulted in Oxford in 10 days.

Victims have now helped police construct an e-fit picture and officers are now calling on the public, particularly in East Oxford, to help them catch the short, olive-skinned man.

His latest victim, a 19-year-old, was walking along Westbury Crescent, in Cowley, at about 3.30am yesterday when she was pushed to the ground and sexually assaulted.

She was also punched in thehead several times before escapping towards Rose Hill Road.

Her attacker is described as possibly Albanian, in his late 20s or early 30s, 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in tall, clean shaven, of medium build, with dark hair and olive skin.

Det Sgt Steve Raffield said: “At this time we are not ruling out that this might be connected to the previous sexual assaults in the Southfield Road area.

“It is important that people do not panic and instead make sure they take sensible precautions.

“Young women walking around late at night drunk is not a good idea until we catch this person.

“These have been nasty attacks and we are doing everything we can to catch the man responsible.”

On Thursday morning, two women, aged 20 and 19, were walking along Southfield Road at about 2.47am when a man jumped out from a bush and sexually assaulted them.

One of the women pushed the man away and they ran off.

On May 29, a 21-year-old woman was followed by a man along Cowley Road into Southfield Road at about 3am.

He grabbed her and tried to pull her into an alleyway, but she managed to fight him off.

Another woman, aged 24, later contacted police to report that she was also assaulted in the same street in the early hours of the same morning.

Elizabeth Mills, chairman of the Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, which covers Southfield Road, said: “The most important thing right now is not to panic. It is very important that young women take sensible precautions when walking home.

“We have notified our members about the attacks and we know police are taking them very seriously and doing all they can to bring this person to justice.

“When men get very drunk they make themselves vulnerable to physical attack, whereas young women will be more vulnerable to this sort of attack.”

Any witnesses should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police have re-issued an appeal for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted at the Malmaison Hotel, in Oxford Castle.

The 40-year-old went to St Aldate’s police station to report the attack at 12.15am on Sunday.

Two men, aged 32 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of rape, but later released without charge.

Witnesses should call 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.