Girl struggles free from attacker

The rapist has struck across London and the south east

Detectives hunting a serial rapist in London and the south east of England are studying an attack on a teenage girl in Surrey.

The 15-year-old managed to struggle free after being grabbed by a man in Fetcham, at 0030 BST on Saturday.

Surrey police said details of the attack have been passed to officers working on Operation Orb, an investigation into eight linked rapes and one assault.

But they stressed that no connection has yet been made between Saturday's attack and the rapist, who has struck in London, Surrey, Kent and Berkshire since November of last year.

Concern

Saturday's assault happened as the girl was walking home from Leatherhead train. station.

Linked attacks

15 Nov, 2001: Ashford, Kent

1 July, 2002: Bracknell, Berks

11 July, 2002: Earlswood, Surrey, and Putney Heath

16 July, 2002: Woking, Surrey

6 Aug, Wimbledon Common

7 Aug, 2002: Epsom, Surrey

6 Sep, 2002: Woking, Surrey

16 Sep, 2002: Ripley Green, Surrey

"She was able to break free and immediately informed police," a police spokeswoman said.

"There is no description of the offender available at present and we are appealing for people who saw anyone they regard as suspicious in the vicinity of Oswald Road last night to contact police."

The involvement of officers investigating the linked sex attacks follows growing concern about their violent nature.

More than 100 police officers in London and the counties are now involved in tracking the rapist down.

Fled

Officers believe the man attacked a 10-year-old girl in Ashford, Kent, and women in Wimbledon and Putney in London, Bracknell in Berkshire and Epsom in Surrey.

The last incident was on September 16 when a 22-year-old woman was assaulted while walking her dog in Ripley Green, Surrey.

The attacker fled after being bitten by her collie.

After raping a 26-year-old woman on Putney Common on 11 July, he used her mobile phone to call her mother and said: "I've just raped your daughter."