Police are searching for a teenage suspect after the 25-year-old woman was attacked at around 10.30pm last night.

Officers were called on Monday night by a member of the public who had been approached in the street by a 25-year-old woman stating she had just been assaulted nearby on Shakers Lane.

The woman was followed by a man along Mount Road End and forced into a wooded area, where a sexual assault took place. The victim suffered a fractured wrist during the attack.

The offender then ran off towards the Moreton Hall area through the woods. The helicopter and dog unit were deployed to search the area and police are conducting enquiries to trace the offender. The scene cordon has now been lifted.

The male offender is described as being in his late teens, between 5’8” and 5’11” tall, with dark brown coloured hair and dark eyebrows.

He was wearing a black tracksuit jacket and black tracksuit bottoms. The offender spoke with the victim before the attack and stated that he was from Romania. He is described as having an Eastern European accent.

Detective Inspector Eamonn Bridger, who is leading the investigation said: “This was a serious assault in which a woman who was walking on her own was subject to a traumatic attack.

“Specialist trained officers are working with the victim to ensure that she receives the support that she needs and extensive enquiries are being undertaken to locate the offender.

“Incidents of this kind are very rare and I would urge anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area at the time, who recognises the description given to us, or who has any information relating to the attack to call us immediately.”

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call 101 and quote CAD 466 of 11.05.15. Calls can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.