West Yorkshire Police are today appealing for witnesses following a serious sexual assault in the Burley area of Leeds on Saturday night.

The attack, which took place near the popular Skyrack pub in the residential area of St Michael’s Lane in Burley, occurred at around 8.35pm after a man grabbed a 23-year-old woman in the road and attempted to assault her.

It has been reported that the woman manged to resist the attacker, who immediately feld the scene.

The suspect has been described as a dark skinned male, around 6ft in height with short dark brown hair, who was wearing a dark hooded top at the time of the attack.

DI Ian Scott of Leeds District CID, said: “We have a number of enquiries ongoing today into this incident in the Burley area and are appealing for witnesses.

“A number of scenes are in place in the area and are being examined by officers.  The victim was not injured in the incident.”

The attack comes just two months after an 18-year-old Beeston woman was dragged from a local bus stop and beaten with a stone before being sexually assaulted on the 6 March. However, while acknowledging that the investigation is at at early stage, WYP have not yet made any link between the two attacks.

DI Scott added: “While investigations are at an early stage we are  not currently linking the offence to the ongoing investigation of the attempted murder and rape of an 18-year-old woman in Beeston Road, Beeston, on Friday, March 6.”

West Yorkshire Police has asked for anyone who saw the incident or saw a man fitting the description of the suspect behaving suspiciously in the St Michael’s Lane area at around the time of the offence to contact Leeds District CID on 101.  Information can also be given to the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Greg Whitaker