Students are victims of two separate attacks

6:25am Monday 30th October 2006

TWO female students were indecently assaulted within minutes of each other as they walked home through Southampton city centre.

Police are not linking the attacks, which may have been carried out by two different men, but are keen to trace the attackers.

The first incident took place between 00:30am and 1am on Saturday and the second just 45 minutes later in the Bedford Place area of the city.

In both incidents the women, who are in their twenties and studying at Solent University, were walking home from separate nights out.

Their attackers, who police believe had earlier struck up a conversation with their victims, stopped them and held them against their will whilst attacking them. Both the victims screamed and shouted for help and the attackers then ran off.

DC Joanne Young, of Bitterne CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "It is unknown if these two assaults are by the same male. These were two separate attacks on two different girls. Both of the girls were prevented from escaping while they were being assaulted."

Anyone who has any information should call DC Young on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.