Search for night-time prowler

Pensioners in a County Durham town where two elderly women have been sexually assaulted claim they are being terrorised in their homes by a late-night stalker.

Police have stepped up uniformed patrols in the former pit village of Seaham, where an 87-year-old widow was sexually assaulted by a masked knifeman in her home on Wednesday.

Earlier in 2003 a woman in her 70s suffered a similar ordeal in her nearby home, and detectives believe the two attacks could be linked.

Now another 87-year-old woman has come forward to claim the Westlea estate, scene of the two attacks, is being plagued by a late-night burglar.

She said: "I was lying in bed and there was someone trying the door, and knocking on the window. It was very frightening. This has been going on for some time now."

Another elderly woman on the estate said pensioners felt like prisoners in their own homes, while other are upgrading the locks and bolts on their doors.

Major inquiry

Police, who are hunting the 6ft tall, hooded burglar who indecently assaulted the two elderly women in their beds, say the late-night caller might just be a young prankster.

But Detective Chief Inspector Brian Tate, who is heading the inquiry, said police would examine the possibility that the mystery prowler was the person repsonsible for the two attacks.

He said :"We look seriously at any reports of prowlers, particularly on the Westlea estate, and especially where elderly people are involved.

"Information will be passed on to our major inquiry team.

"We will stay with this case - which is a priority - until this person is detected.

Medical treatment

"Because of the nature of these attacks, both on two elderly ladies who only live a few streets away from each other, it is a strong possibility that the same person is responsible, but we are keeping our options open."

The 87-year-old victim needed medical treatment after the incident in Seaham, County Durham, at 0500 BST on Wednesday.

Police have appealed for urgent help in finding the attacker.

After he fled she managed to contact an emergency warden service who alerted police.

Forensic experts have examined the victim's home and detectives are carrying out extensive door-to-door inquiries in the area.