Woman seriously assaulted while waiting for taxi in Belfast

Detectives in Northern Ireland are seeking a man who seriously assaulted a young woman in Belfast.

The 21-year-old victim was waiting for a taxi in Damascus Street, in south Belfast, at around 3.30am this morning when she was approached by the attacker.

He told her he would escort her to a taxi depot round the corner, but on the way there he pushed her into an alleyway at Fitzwilliam Square and assaulted her.

The young woman screamed and a nearby resident alerted to the assault shouted at the attacker who then fled the scene. The attacker is described as about 5ft 7 or 8ins tall, slim, and with a local accent.

He was wearing a hooded top, dark tracksuit bottoms and trainers and aged in his late teens or early 20s.

Detectives in the PSNI serious crime branch have appealed for witnesses to get in contact with them.