A WOMAN who popped out to her local store in Lancaster was indecently assaulted on her return home.

The 39-year-old became aware of being followed before she was attacked in an alley between Ullswater Road and Garnet Street on Monday night.

Police say her assailant pushed her from behind and forced her against the wall before indecently assaulting her, while making obscene remarks, between 9.45pm and 10.10pm.

She fought him off and the man - described as about six feet tall, slim and in his 30s with short dark hair - ran off towards Borrowdale Road.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lancaster Police on 01524-63333.

The attack comes only days after a pervert was jailed for 30 months for indecent assault and obscene behaviour offences which left a number of women in Lancaster traumatised.

A Lancaster policewoman who went undercover to help catch delivery driver Nigel Peter Walker has praised those who came forward to give evidence against him.

The 40-year-old was sentenced for outraging public decency and an indecent assault.

He had made sexual comments to women over five months on a Lancaster cycle path, and sometimes exposed himself.

During that time Walker also approached DC Angela Craw, who was undercover on the path between the end of Collingham Park, Scotforth and the university.

But she said he was spooked' by a cyclist and made off. However, the detective was able to match him to the wanted man.

DC Craw praised the women, including students from China, Canada and America, who came forward to give evidence.

"Their prompt actions contributed to a successful operation," she says. "He needed to get caught. He was not going to stop."

The offences mainly involved university students but also a local woman on her way to church.

Walker will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

May 1, 2003 08:00