Hunt for serial attacker widens

Police have put up posters around the town which show an e-fit of the suspect

Detectives hunting a violent serial attacker preying on women who has struck 10 times in Hastings are now investigating a further six attacks.

The six additional incidents have not been formally linked, but bear "striking similarities", officers from Sussex Police Major Crime Branch said.

A further five offences are also being explored, which stretch back to 2006.

A £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction has been offered by police and Crimestoppers.

Ten attacks on women and teenage girls, aged between 16 and 33, have already been linked to one man. The first of those attacks was in June 2007 and the most recent was in May.

I believe he may live, have family or friends here, or work in the town Det Ch Insp Trevor Bowles

The attacker strikes between 2100 and 0300 and there appears to be no sexual motive and nothing is stolen.

Det Ch Insp Trevor Bowles said: "Someone in the town knows who he is. It is clear that this attacker knows the town well.

"I believe he may live, have family or friends here, or work in the town."

He added: "The willingness of this man to use unprovoked violence against women is a great concern and we urgently need to find the man responsible."

He said the man was white, in his 20s or 30s, with dark hair longer on the top than the sides, and sometimes wore a hoodie.