THIS man indecently assaulted a York teenager as she walked home from work.

The brave victim managed to fight off her attacker by hitting him with her handbag.

Now police have issued this e-fit of him in the hope that someone might recognise him.

York Police spokesman Colin Ventress warned that the attack could have been "far more serious".

The 18-year-old woman was walking alone along Love Lane, just off Dalton Terrace, near The Mount School, in York, at about 6.10pm on Friday, January 5.

As she walked past the man in the e-fit, who is described as being in his early 20s, he grabbed hold of her and pushed her towards a wall in a corner close to the bridge at the end of Love Lane.

The man then asked the young woman if she was "up for sex".

When she replied that she was not, the male grabbed hold of her wrist.

But after a short struggle she managed to hit her attacker with a bag she was carrying. The man then let go of her and she ran away from the area.

Mr Ventress said: "The incident was obviously very frightening for the young woman involved.

"Sometimes people do put themselves at risk by walking alone late at night, but this happened in the early evening, and in a main area, so she shouldn't have been at risk by walking on her own.

"Given the nature of this attack, the implications are that it could have been far more serious.

"Fortunately this kind of attack doesn't happen very often in York, but it was extremely distressing for the victim and it is important that we catch this offender."

The attacker is described as white, in his early 20s, about 5ft 9in tall and of thin build, with blond hair and a pale complexion.

At the time of the attack he had a recent graze on his left cheekbone.

Anyone with information about the incident or man in the e-fit is asked to phone York Police on 0845 60 60 247.