A WOMAN was sexually assaulted by a man near York railway station today.

Detectives in York said the woman was walking in Station Road close to the Principal Hotel at about 5.20am when she was sexually assaulted over her clothing by a man, who then ran off through the hotel gardens and along Leeman Road towards the railway bridge.

The man was described as white, aged in his early twenties and was wearing a bright blue Puffa-style jacket with the hood up, jogging bottoms and trainers. 

The incident follows a pair of sex attacks in the early hours of Thursday and Saturday last week. A man has been arrested over those incidents, and remains in custody.

Chief Inspector Al Wescott said: "I appreciate this third incident may cause alarm among the people of York. I would like to reassure members of the public that we are doing all we can to find the suspect, but in the meantime, people should be alert, but not scared.

"Take safety measures if you are walking alone at night, stay together with friends, stick to well-lit streets and be aware of who is around you. At this stage it is too early to say if the incident is connected to the sexual assaults reported last week and a man remains in police custody as enquiries into those assaults continue."

Anyone who was in the area at the time or has information that could help police should phone 101, select option two and ask for York Serious Crime Team.

Alternatively, phone Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting reference 12170128098.