A TEENAGE girl was grabbed by a man who tried to rape her as she walked along an Oxford street.

The 17-year-old was walking along Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, and was grabbed by the man as she passed Bampton Close.

Detectives last night said the victim managed to escape and run for help.

Det Sgt John Linsdell said the attack was being treated as an attempted rape after officers interviewed the victim yesterday.

He said: “Fortunately the victim was not injured in the incident, but has obviously been left very shaken and distressed.

“She is being supported by officers and her family.”

Police say it is too early to link the attack on Saturday with a string of sexual assaults in East Oxford, Cowley and Blackbird Leys last year.

In one of the last attacks, in October, a 19-year-old woman was dragged away after visiting the shops in Rose Hill. As the woman left the shops, at about 11pm, a man dragged her to a nearby grassy area and attacked her.

It is not believed any charges have ever been brought concerning the previous attacks.

Det Sgt Linsdell appealed to anyone who was in the area of the latest attack, around 7.50pm on Saturday, to contact police.

He said: “If there were any witnesses in that area, I would urge them to come forward. It’s a residential area but also a run-off from the Leys to the bypass.”

Det Sgt Linsdell said the footpaths around Sandy Lane West and Spring Lane were regularly used by pedestrians and cyclists.

The attacker is described as black, in his late 20s to early 30s, skinny, around 6ft tall, clean shaven, and had a deep voice.

He was wearing a black and grey striped beanie-style woollen hat, a black shiny or silky hip-length padded jacket, dark blue or black wide leg jeans with a distinctive white or light-coloured line pattern on the right bottom pocket, and black trainers, possibly Nike Air-style with a hole in the heel and a florescent green band around the back of the heel.

Det Sgt Linsdell said: “The assault happened on a public footpath in the early evening, so I am hopeful someone may have seen a man matching the description hanging around the area.

“A team of detectives are working to catch the person responsible and I would urge anyone with any information which may help with the investigation to contact me.”

Littlemore parish councillor Dorian Hancock said: “I think such things are incredibly awful.

“I have every sympathy for the girl and her family and I’m sure the police will warn people they should be perhaps a little more aware.”

Anyone who can help should call Det Sgt Linsdell CID on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.