They are the latest victims in a series of similar random assaults where lone women have been hit on the head late at night.

One was struck with a beer bottle in Priory Avenue last Thursday night and the other suffered serious head injuries when she was set on with an unknown weapon in Freshwater Avenue late on Tuesday.

Attack One
A 25-year-old was attacked on Priory Avenue as she walked home from work last Thursday night-Friday morning at 1am.

The following day, police cordoned off the road, near Forest Way, to search for evidence relating to the unprovoked and motiveless assault.

The suspect was stood under a tree, and crossed the road to the victim, and said: "Excuse me," before striking her with the clear-glass beer bottle. He then ran off towards the town centre.

She suffered a deep cut above the right eye, and was treated at the Conquest Hospital where she had four stitches.

The attacker is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of stocky, muscular build, with short cropped brown hair. He was wearing a plain white, loose-fitting long sleeved t-shirt and jeans.

The following morning Hastings police and CID officers combed the area for clues - including the bottle which did not break and had a green label on. A letter has been sent to all residents in Priory Avenue in case it was thrown into a garden.

DI Paul Phelps made a direct appeal to anyone who might know the identity of the man to contact them.

"He was dressed in such a distinctive way with a loose white long sleeve top that we are hoping someone, maybe his parents or his girlfriend or sister, might remember him going out on Thursday night in those clothes.

"Someone is going to know who this person is. We appreciate there might be a conflict of loyalty, but you can call Crimestoppers anonymously."

Attack Two
The 27-year-old attacked in Freshwater Avenue during the early hours of Wednesday suffered "nasty" head injuries.

The victim, from Seaford, had been visting friends for the evening and missed her last train home.

She was walking to a friend's house to spend the night when she was set on at about 1am.

Said DI Phelps: "She was walking up St Helen's Park Road past Blacklands Church and left into Freshwater Avenue when she was struck from behind with an unknown weapon.

"She was taken to hospital with a significant head injury which required stitches. It was quite nasty."

Her attacker was described as white, in his late 20s, with short black hair and clean shaven, 6ft tall, of medium build, and wearing a blue or black jumper.


Several women have been victim to late-night assaults, usually struck on the head, in the last few months, with no apparent motive.

A teenage girl was hit on the head at The Ridge on April 23 and female cyclists were attacked in St Helen's Road at the end of April and in February.

Late last year a cyclist was assaulted near Laton Road and yet another in the St Helen's Road/King Edward Avenue area in June. A vicious assault on a 13-year-old Polish student took place in a Sedlescombe Road North phone box shortly afterwards.

DI Phelps said: "We are investigating a number of attacks on females under an operation called Operation Medium. As to whether there are any links between them is yet to be determined because the descriptions differ greatly.

"On the Priory Avenue occasion the guy spoke to the victim, whereas on other occasions he had not done. And we are looking at various different locations.

"But then they are all females, they are all head injuries."
Anyone who has any information about any of the incidents should contact DI Phelps at Hastings CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.