POLICE are asking Star readers to help them in their hunt for the man who they believe is responsible for carrying out two sex attacks in the early hours of Sunday, July 21.

The first attack took place at 12.30am in Victoria Park as a 30-year-old woman took a short cut home. Just 90 minutes later another woman suffered a similar ordeal in nearby Peel Place.

This week Detective Chief Inspector Steve Cahill, who is leading the hunt for the sex attacker, said: "We are linking both the attacks and believe they were probably carried out by the same man.

"The man involved in the attacks is described as a white male, 20-30 years, 6ft tall, with a proportionate to athletic build, he had short brown hair and wore a sleeper in his left ear.

"We would like to make a fresh appeal to any members of the public who may have seen a male, fitting the above description, loitering or acting suspiciously at the Landings roundabout, College Street, Crab Street, Union Street, Peel Place, Queen Street, North Road, at the rear of the Park Hotel, or in Victoria Park."

DCI Cahill continued: "Our inquiries also lead us to believe that there were a number of arguing couples in the North Road and Queen Street area at around the time of the attacks and we would like to speak to any of the people concerned so we can eliminate them from our inquiries, they may also have some valuable information.

"We would also like to hear from a couple who were seen in a passageway leading from College Street to Union Street at about 12.15am. The woman is described as being in her 40s with shoulder length streaked blonde hair. The man is white, with brown hair and a moustache."

Last Thursday a bra belonging to one of the victims was discovered at the rear of the Clarendon public house on the junction of College Street and Hill Street. And the police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the bra between Sunday or Thursday.

Anyone who may be able to help the police with their inquiries should contact DS Sue Ford at St Helens police station on 0151 777 6061, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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