Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident in which a woman was sexually assaulted during an attempted robbery in Milton Keynes.

The appeal relates to happened at approximately 2.45pm yesterday afternoon (20/5).

The victim was a woman aged in her thirties, who was on the pedestrian walkway in the NCP car park near North Eleventh Street.

As she walked across the footbridge from Conniburrow towards Milton Keynes Central, she was approached from behind by a man on the walkway.

The man put his hand over the victim’s eyes and pulled her backwards and attempted to take the victim’s handbag.

The victim pulled her bag closer to her and the man then placed his hand inside the victim’s clothing and touched her forcefully in the upper body inappropriately.

The man then ran from the scene. Another man then approached the victim to ask her what had happened and assisted her to seek the help of two mounted police officers who were in the area.

The offender is described as a white man with a tanned complexion, aged in his late twenties to early thirties.

He is around 6ft 2ins tall and had dark hair and a full dark beard and was wearing a maroon long-sleeved top and trousers.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Matthew Acland, based at Milton Keynes police station, said, “This was a frightening ordeal for the victim who was sexually assaulted in an apparent attempted robbery.

“I am appealing to anybody who believes that they may have witnessed this incident, or recognise the description of the offender, to please make contact with police.

“I would also be keen to hear from anybody who has CCTV or dash-cam footage from the area at around 2.45pm on Wednesday to please check this and get in touch if it has captured anything that can help this investigation.

“You can do so by making a report online, quoting reference 43200149225 or by calling 101.

“Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”