Manhunt after daylight assault

A young woman suffered a terrifying sexual assault in central Christchurch yesterday.

The 21-year-old woman was walking past the Christchurch District Court building about 10.30am when she was grabbed by two men and dragged behind a hedge, where she was indecently assaulted.

She fought with her attackers and yelled to a passer-by, whose intervention forced the assailants to flee.

The woman had been walking along Chester Street West between the court building and Victoria Square when she was attacked.

Detective Sergeant Mark Reid said police wanted to speak to anyone who saw the incident or had information about who might have been involved.

They also wanted to talk to the man who went to the woman's aid.

"Had it not been for his actions, the offending against this young woman would likely have continued and escalated in nature," Reid said.

He said the woman was left shaken and distressed.

"It's a brazen attack mid-morning in a busy area and with two people involved. It's definitely out of the norm," he said.

Reid said police were making inquiries at the courts after several people had called to report seeing two men outside the court building.

"They may have been appearing in court at the time," he said.

Reid said the woman believed she may have been followed. She had walked from Bealey Avenue. The woman, a caucasian, wore her blonde hair in a ponytail.

At the time of the attack she was wearing a blue T-shirt with writing on the front and the back, and a pair of grey denim shorts. She wore a round-brimmed hat and a pair of white-framed glasses.

Both attackers were described as being in their early 20s. One was an unshaven Maori with tattooed arms, and the other a caucasian with facial acne. The Maori had longish hair and wore a dark hooded sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans, ripped at both knees.

The other attacker had short, mousy-blond hair, was unshaven, and wore camouflage pants and a dark hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information should contact Reid on (03) 363 7717.

Are you the hero who helped? Contact the newsroom on 364 8496, ext 827, or email reporters@press. co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News