Thaindian News

London, June 2 (IANS) A bike-riding sex maniac, who is targeting female students in Cambridge, has caused a scare here.

Each time he has struck, the man has prowled the streets on a bike before grabbing and groping his victims - aged between 19 and 32 - but he has fled the scene when they began struggling or screaming, Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Nine women have so far been attacked in the city - eight of whom were studying at the Cambridge university.

The attacker is in his 20s, of medium build between 5ft 10inch and 6ft and has been described as being physically strong.

As fears grow that his attacks could become more serious, all students, staff and fellows have now been emailed by Mark Wormald, a senior tutor at Pembroke College, warning students to remain vigilant.

The attacks started in August with the latest being Saturday - the first time he has targeted someone who isn’t a student.

Wormald told students: “Students who are travelling across Cambridge after dark on foot rather than on bicycles are urged to walk in pairs wherever possible and to carry a mobile phone and if possible a personal alarm.”

Detective Sergeant Phil Priestley from Cambridgeshire Police said: “This latest incident is extremely similar to the other attacks in this series and we have reasonable grounds to believe that they have all been committed by the same man.

“He appears to have good local knowledge and is travelling to and from the offence locations on a bike.”