A TERRIFIED 14-year-old girl fought off a sex attacker after he pounced on her in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, police said today.

Colin Adwent

A TERRIFIED 14-year-old girl fought off a sex attacker after he pounced on her in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, police said today.

The teenager was walking through the park on her own after saying goodbye to a friend, when she became aware of four men behind her.

The girl said she was walking on the path through the forest area between the two duck ponds when one of the men wolf-whistled at her.

Feeling uncomfortable, she began walking quicker. However, one of the men is said to have jumped on her and carried out an indecent assault.

The girl screamed for help and managed to punch her attacker on the nose, before breaking free.

She then fled in the direction of Park Road.

The girl ran out of the park crying and police believe the distressed teenager may have been seen as she did so by two dog walkers.

Officers described the man who carried out the attack as dark-skinned with a freckled nose, dark brown eyes and slick-backed black hair. He was wearing a pink and white open-necked shirt with long sleeves which were turned up and blue denim jeans.

The man also had a ring on his left hand.

The attack took place between 8.30pm and 10.30pm on Saturday as the girl was on her way home from the cinema.

Police want to hear from anyone who heard her scream and the two people walking their dogs as the teenager ran from the park.

Three days earlier an 11-year-old girl was assaulted when a man grabbed her chest on a recreation ground at St Augustine's Gardens in Ipswich.

The youngster was riding her bike when her assailant jumped out of the bushes, before grabbing her stomach and chest.

She managed to flee before anything else happened.

The attack occurred between 5.30pm and 5.45pm on Wednesday.

The man is described as white, but with a sun tan, aged in his early 30s, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build and with short untidy mousey brown hair. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.

If you can help officers with either investigation, telephone 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.