POLICE believe a serial sex attacker may have struck for the fifth time in ten days.

A 19-year-old woman was walking along Westbury Crescent at about 3.30am yesterday when she was pushed to the floor and sexually assaulted.

Officers have today said they are not ruling out the possibility it could be linked to four similar attacks in East Oxford.

The victim in the latest assault was punched several times in the head and then assaulted. She broke free and fled towards Rose Hill Road.

Police said the attacker was described as possibly Albanian, in his late twenties or early thirties, about 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in tall, clean shaven, with a medium build, dark hair and olive skin.

Two women were attacked in Southfield Road on May 29, followed by another two on Thursday. All were in the early hours of the morning.

Victims of these attacks described the man as Asian, in his 20s, about 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, of slim to medium build with short black hair, possibly in tight curls.

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.

“We currently have a dedicated team investigating this offence and we have local officers carrying out house-to-house enquiries to see if local residents have any information that may help us.

“The neighbourhood team has increased patrols in the area to offer reassurance to the local community.

“This was a very serious incident that has left the victim shaken and with injuries from the assault.”

Any witnesses should call police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11