A MASKED raider is being hunted after attacks on two men in the University Parks area of Oxford.

The first, an assault, took place in Parks Road on Monday, March 12, between midnight and 1am when a man was chased by two men, one of whom was wearing a skeleton mask, possibly of the type worn in the film Scream.

The attacker, who was about 5ft 10in tall and skinny, chased the man until he fell and dislocated his shoulder, at which point he kicked him while he was still on the ground.

The second offence, a robbery, was on Saturday, March 17, at about 10.30pm and occurred on the cycle path from South Parks Road to Marston, near the Marston Road allotments.

Two men were walking along the path, one wheeling a cycle, when a 6ft man, in a similar mask and wielding a six-inch knife, demanded they hand over their money and valuables.

One of the men managed to use the cycle to defend them, and the robbery was unsuccessful.

PC Mark Stalder, of the Oxford Robbery team, said: "While these attacks were very different we are linking them because of the nearby locations and obviously a similar mask was used on both occasions.

"We are appealing for witnesses to either of these incidents, which may have not appeared that serious at the time, or anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the University Parks area.

"We would particularly like to speak to a woman who rode past on a bike during the robbery. The victims tried to approach her about what had happened, but she didn't seem to take them seriously and rode away."

PC Stalder can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you do not want to speak to police and do not want to leave your name, contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.