Detectives from West Yorkshire Police are looking for a man thought to be behind two sexual assaults on women in the Woodhouse area of Leeds last week.

The attacks took place in the early hours of Tuesday 26 September. One woman, 21, was grabbed and pushed into a bus stop by a man as she walked home across Woodhouse Moor at around 2.35am.

She managed to struggle free but the man approached and grabbed her again at the junction with Delph Lane. When she shouted for help and flagged a passing taxi, the man fled.

The suspect was described as a mixed race male in his twenties, around 5ft 8ins tall and of medium build, wearing a light grey oversized puffer-jacket with a large triangular hood, and baggy jeans.

Less than half an hour later at around 3am, a different 21-year-old woman was walking home from a night out when she noticed a man following her along Delph Lane.

As she was on the doorstep of her house the man approached her and tried to force his way in. The victim managed to shut the door on him and the man left the scene.

On this occasion, the man was described as being tall, dark-skinned and of medium build, wearing a dark green coat with a fur hood and blue jeans.

The CCTV images shown are from the area of that incident.

Officers are also looking into whether these incidents are linked to a robbery of a woman outside her home the previous week, at about 4.30am on Tuesday 19 September.

The 21-year-old woman was returning to her home on Blenheim Terrace after a night out, when she was approached by a male who pulled her to the floor.

The assailant stole the victim’s phone after a brief struggle and made off in the direction of Blackman Lane.

He is described as being black, aged between 25 and 30, and of average height and strong build.

Detective Inspector Richard Holmes of Leeds District CID, said that the same suspect is believed to be responsible for the two sexual assaults on September 26.

“The CCTV images we are releasing are quite clear and we would like to hear from anyone who recognises this man or has seen him in the area either on the night or at any other time,” he stated.

“Our personal safety advice remains the same as it would at any other time. We would encourage people to plan ahead for their journey home and travel by bus or taxi. If you do have to walk then keep with a group of friends and stay to well-lit routes along main roads wherever possible.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is being urged to contact Leeds District CID via 101, quoting crime number 13170444718.

People can alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Jonny Chard and Ian White