A WOMAN was dragged away and attacked as she visited shops in Rose Hill.

The 19-year-old went to the shops just off the main road in Rose Hill, Oxford, at around 11pm on Friday.

As she left the parade, a man dragged her to a nearby grassy area and sexually assaulted her.

Nasih Gardi, supervisor at the Branos takeaway in Rose Hill, said: “The police were all around here looking for the attacker until about 2am or 3am.

“She went to the shop next door, but he followed her and it happened a bit further down.

“Police were swarming all around here.”

He added: “It’s not very busy around here at that time because we don’t have any pubs or clubs.”

He said the woman had gone to the Supa Sava shop just before the attack.

The attacker is described as black, of medium build and around 5ft 6ins tall. He was wearing white clothing.

Police said they were not stepping up patrols as they believed it was an isolated incident.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said: “Officers have already carried out house-to-house calls, making people aware that this has happened.”

Det Insp Steve Duffy, leading the investigation, said: “We are still at the very early stages of this investigation but we would urge anyone who saw anything that could be connected to this attack to come forward.

“We would also encourage anyone who matches this description, or anyone who has seen someone arrive home wearing this very distinctive clothing, to come forward so that they can be eliminated from this inquiry.”

Police said they were not connecting the attack to other sex assaults in East Oxford, Cowley and Blackbird Leys.

Det Insp Simon Morton warned women last week not to walk home alone, after two attacks on the same night in Oxford.

Last night he reiterated his earlier words of “common sense” caution to women in Oxford.

He said: “I would once again tell women to stay safe and try not to walk home alone.”

A 30-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Marsh Road, Cowley, in the early hours of Friday, September 30.

In an unconnected attack, a 25-year-old woman was raped in an alleyway near Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, at 11pm on Thursday, September 29.

The latest attack brings the number of attacks in Oxford this summer to 10. Anyone with information can contact police on 08458 505505 or 0800 555111.