Cambridge University warns female students against bicycle sex attacker

The efit of a man police seek in connection with sexual attacks on young women in Cambridge. Photograph: Cambridgeshire police/PA

Police have warned students at Cambridge University not to walk alone at night after a number of assaults in the city by a serial sex attacker.

The university has also urged students to take extra care while police hunt for the bike-riding "predator" who is thought to have attacked nine women since first striking in August.

Cambridgeshire police have launched Operation Majesty to catch the offender, who cycles alongside victims before grabbing and groping them, and escaping when they start to struggle or scream.

The victims, eight of whom study at Cambridge university, range in age from 19 to 32.

Dr Mark Wormald, a senior tutor at Pembroke College, has emailed a warning to students, fellows and staff, urging them to take extra care after another woman was attacked on Saturday. The woman was not a student at the university, but the attack followed the pattern experienced by students who have been attacked.

Detective Sergeant Phil Priestley said Saturday's incident was "extremely similar to the other attacks" and the police believed they were committed by the same man.

"It is reasonable to suspect that someone out there knows who he is and I would urge them to do the right thing and get in touch. This person may have boasted to friends, or made mention of his unusual activities," he said.

He urged anyone who may have seen the man to get in touch. "He appears to have good local knowledge and is travelling to and from the offence locations on a bike. It is likely other people may have seen him during the morning of this latest incident."

Priestley urged women not to walk the streets on their own. "We have increased patrols in the areas where offences have been committed and would urge women to take the usual sensible precautions of not walking at night and early in the morning alone."

Police have issued an efit image of the attacker who is described as tall – between 5ft 10in and 6ft – white, aged 20 - 30, of medium build and physically strong.

In his email, quoted in the Cambridge News, Wormald said: "The predator continues to operate in the vicinity of the college and its hostels in the west and south of the city. You are requested to remain extremely vigilant when walking in and around the city, particularly after nightfall."

Students were told not to walk on their own, or use their bicycles. "Students who are travelling across Cambridge after dark on foot rather than on bicycles are urged to walk in pairs wherever possible and to carry a mobile phone and if possible a personal alarm," read the email.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to?£5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the attacker. Ann Scott, eastern regional manager at Crimestoppers, said: "These incidents are unsettling for the whole community and it is vital this offender is caught and brought to justice."

reff:guardian.co.uk