Herts Police won’t link series of assaults on young St Albans and Harpenden women
Police Stock. police officers - Credit: Archant
Police were tight-lipped this week about a possible link between three separate attacks by a man from behind on young women.
A 23-year-old jogger was grabbed by her neck by a man wearing black gloves on Saturday evening, while another girl, 14, was grabbed by her face and pulled to the ground on June 26.
The two incidents bear a striking resemblance to an assault on a 15-year-old which took place on December 16 but Herts Police have described each as an isolated incident.
All three girls managed to escape but only two of them could give a description of their attacker, with the 23-year-old and the 15-year-old both remembering him wearing black gloves.
The attacker is also described by both as wearing a dark-coloured or black hooded top and between 5ft 8ins and 6ft tall.
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On Saturday the 23-year-old was in the Jersey Farm area, St Albans, at about 7.30pm when the man approached her from behind and put his arm around her neck and pulled her towards him.
Despite escaping the victim was left very shaken. The man left in an unknown direction from where the woman was jogging on the Sandringham Crescent footpath.
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On June 26 the 14-year-old was walking through Marlborough Park in Harpenden when she was also approached from behind. The attacker grabbed her by the face and she fell to the ground but she managed to fight him off and get away.
On December 16 the 15-year-old was on a footpath which cuts through Aldwickbury Crecent and Alzey Gardens in Harpenden when a man approached her from behind.
He also grabbed her by the face and pulled her to the ground. She ran off screaming and the attacker disappeared in the direction of Dalkeith Road and Crabtree Lane area.
Although referring to each incident as ‘isolated’, Herts Police are appealing for witnesses and information.
A spokeswoman said: “As a matter of course when incidents occur which initially appear to be similar in nature they are checked thoroughly for any links and at this stage it is not believed they are linked.
“However, the community should be reassured we will continue to investigate the incidents and monitor any new information which may come to light.”
If you have any information please call Herts Police on the non-emergency number 101.
