Search For Southampton Common Attacker

17 July 2013, 14:38 | Updated: 18 July 2013, 15:18

A police search has been carried out on Southampton Common after a woman was attacked.

The 36-year-old woman was running with her dog near woodland and the ornamental lake at about 9.45am on July 17th when a man ran up behind her and lashed out with an undetermined weapon.

The woman suffered a superficial cut to an arm and felt a pain in her back.  After alerting police, the woman was taken to Southampton General Hospital for an assessment of her injuries.  The injuries are not believed to
be life threatening.

Police searched a large wooded section of Southampton Common with police dogs and officers.  A police helicopter was deployed.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late twenties.  He is slender, 5ft 7-10ins tall.  He has short blond hair, which is darker rather than lighter.  He wore a light blue top and navy shorts.  He may have a tattoo or mud on an ankle and a dog bite on an arm.

Anyone who saw a man of this description or suspicious activity on The Common before 11am is asked to contact police at Southampton on 101.