THIS is the man police want to speak to as they hunt a cyclist who sexually assaulted a teenager in Cowley.

Last night detectives released this e-fit image and sought to reassure the public.

The 19-year-old victim was targeted on a footpath close to Cricket Road when a man who rode up behind her, groped her, made an offensive comment and cycled off towards Boundary Brook Road at about 1.45pm on July 31.

The appeal comes as detectives continue to hunt a number of other sex attackers who have preyed on women in the East Oxford area in a series of unrelated incidents.

So far one man has been arrested.

The string of reports in East Oxford and Cowley have sparked concerns about women’s safety.

Clare Cochrane, of Reclaim the Night, an awareness campaign group, said: “We are seeing how this is playing out – we are getting a lot of reports from women being harassed or verbally harassed, or nearly assaulted.

“They are feeling unsafe – which they clearly are in the light of these incidents.”

A man arrested in connection with four attacks in and around Southfield Road on May 29 and June 2 is currently on bail pending further inquiries.

Officers are still appealing for information about two other attacks.

On June 5, a 19-year-old woman was punched in the head several times in Westbury Crescent, Cowley. She told police she bit the man on the hand.

On August 4, a 23-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Marston Street, Cowley, at about 2.19am.

Ms Cochrane said: “Our culture just says it’s fine to harass someone. That’s what this number of reported incidents seems to suggest. It’s happening in a number of locations – it’s not just one perpetrator.”

Today police reissued basic safety advice, reminding women not to walk and talk on mobile phones when out alone and to make plans to get home safely at night.

But Ms Cochrane asked: “What can the police do? They have a good reputation for taking these reports seriously and publicising them in the local press.”

Hannah Clare, who works at Oxford’s Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre, said the unit would continue to support those reporting sex attacks. She said: “If anybody is affected by these issues then we are here to help.”

Anyone who has been a victim of a sex crime can contact the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre on 0800 783 6294 or 01865 726 295.