Police are today hunting a man who tied up and assaulted a woman in north Belfast early yesterday.
Police are investigating a possible sexual motive for the attack.
The 31-year-old was in a pub with friends in the early hours of Saturday when she was befriended by a man.
Around 1am he took her to an outside area somewhere off Carlisle Circus, where she was bound and assaulted.
It is thought the woman was attacked at either the Lower Crumlin Road, Antrim Road, Clifton Street or North Queen Street areas. She was later treated in hospital for severe bruising to her arms and body.
It is believed she escaped after being helped by a young girl and then made her way to Clifton House Mews, where she knocked on several doors and spoke to a resident.
Afterwards the woman made her way to Donegall Street where she met a man who reunited her with her friends.
Police appealed for both the girl and the man who assisted the woman to come forward.
PA