THIS is everything we know about a spate of attacks on women in Basildon in the past few weeks.

Essex Police are urgently appealing for information in relation to four attacks in the Basildon area.

Here are the key points:

  • The first incident took place on February 5 at 2pm where a woman was followed by a man in Broadhurst Place
  • On the same day, a 34-year-old woman was attacked when someone grabbed her on Wickhay at 5.40pm
  • On Monday, a woman in her 20s was assaulted by a man in Pamplins at around 2.30pm.
  • Shortly before 3pm on the same day, another woman reported being approached from behind by a man in Nether Priors and sexually assaulted. This also saw the victim grabbed from behind in the chest area.

Essex Police have released two photos (below) of a man they want to speak to in connection to all four incidents, which are believed to be linked.

Echo:

Extra police patrols have been carried out in Basildon since the latest attacks.

Chief Inspector Chris Bradford said, “We have a dedicated team of detectives investigating, who will pursue all possible lines of enquiry.

"Thankfully, incidents like this are not commonplace, but we have extra patrols in the area so people can stop officers and give us any information they may have that would assist us.”

The 34-year-old victim who was attacked when walking on Wickhay has shared how she fought off the suspect.

The victim had been out with her husband and two children, but had gotten slightly ahead in the walk home, so at the time of the attack she was walking by herself with her youngest child.

She said: “I think personally he came out of a really quiet side road, I couldn’t even hear him.

“Imagine you hug someone from behind that you know really well but want to surprise them, that’s what he did.

“He started with his hands on my chest, trying to put his hands down my body.”

The woman said the attacker was “obviously sexually motivated” as he had not tried to take any valuables out of her pockets.

She continued: “I fought him off and he turned around towards town. I turned my pram around and chased him. He dodged me behind parked cars and was running.”

She added: “It has to stop. I don’t know what he is going to do next.

“He could go violent.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 619 or 660 of 15 February.

People can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the website crimestoppers-uk.org.