A PASSER-BY chased off a sex attacker who pulled a woman into a secluded area and molested her.

The 26-year-old victim was walking along Cowley Road early on Saturday when the attacker grabbed her and dragged her under a staircase at the rear of Baby Simple Bar near Divinity Road.

But a passer-by heard the woman screaming and came to her rescue, after calling police, Dc Simon Beaton said.

The attacker fled when he was challenged.

Yesterday police said a 16-year-old was later arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the woman and has been released on police bail until July Dc Beaton said: “This was a nasty incident that has left the woman very shaken.

“I would urge anyone who was out on the Cowley Road in the early hours of Saturday morning, who may have seen or heard anything relating to this incident, to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible.

“Perhaps you heard the woman shouting?

“Or maybe you saw the woman being pulled along Cowley Road, between Magdalen Road and Divinity Road?”

The man who scared off the attacker stayed with the victim until police arrived.

The venue, formerly called Bar Baby, was renamed Baby Simple after it was refurbished and re-launched in 2007.

Manager and partner Nick Gladwin said he and staff helped police with their enquiries.

He said: “We know that whoever is responsible for this attack was not in our bar during the night.

“We answered the police’s questions and did everything we could to help them.

“This is a pretty safe area and thankfully attacks like this are very rare.

“It must have been horrific and I hope anybody who has information goes to police as soon as possible.”

Latest police figures show there were 37 reported crimes in Cowley Road during March, including 10 violent attacks.

Anyone with information about the sexual assault should call Dc Beaton on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.