Police have revealed they are hunting for a tanned man with "prominent eyebrows" who sexually assaulted a teenage girl and tried to drag her into a car during a frightening attempted kidnapping in April.
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The 19-year-old woman told police she was walking home alone from a night out with friends in the early hours of Sunday, April 7 when a silver sedan pulled up alongside her on Station Street, North Wollongong.
The driver approached the woman, groped her then tried to pull her into the car.
The woman managed to escape after punching the man in the face.
She said her attacker told her it was a case of mistaken identity before fleeing.
Wollongong Police District's Acting Inspector Dave Parker fronted media on Wednesday and said police were "very concerned" about the assault and were following a "number of lines of inquiry".
"If this type of activity is going on it is obviously putting people at risk," he said.
"Police are concerned if this person is in the community then he is someone we need to apprehend and deal with."
Act Insp Parker said the alleged offender was not known to the woman and police believe she was not waiting for a lift service.
He said the assault was obviously "extremely traumatic" for the woman who did not sustain any significant physical injuries.
She reported the attack to police shortly after the incident.
Act Insp Parker could not explain exactly why the information was being released to the public now and not earlier.
He urged any witnesses of the incident to come forward or for victims of similar assaults to contact police.
Police have released CCTV footage of the woman walking home before the attack.
The man is described as 25 to 40 years of age with a tanned completion, approximately 170cm to 175cm tall, of a medium build, bald and had very pronounced dark eyebrows.
He was wearing a light-coloured t-shirt and shorts at the time of the alleged offence.
Act Insp Parker said women who may feel scared were advised to "practice safety".
"If you are walking home, try to walk in numbers, try not to be in isolated area at late times of the night and be mindful of your safety," he said.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
If you need help call the national sexual assault support line on 1800 RESPECT' or the NSW rape crisis and sexual assault hotline on 1800 424 017.
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