Police are investigating a disturbing spate of assaults on women in Canterbury – including two at the Kent University campus.

The most recent attack took place in Giles Lane in the early hours of last Thursday morning (Oct 2) with another one a week earlier

A 20-year-old woman returning to halls after a night out in the city centre was attacked at 2.46am by an unknown man next to a path which leads behind the sports centre to the Parkwood residences.

The area was sealed off and guarded by two female police community support officers as the university burst back into life with staff and students arriving in the morning rush hour traffic.

Police say the attack was a physical rather than sexual assault.

But it follows a sex attack at an address on the campus on September 24. The force did not provide any other information except to say “inquiries are ongoing”.

There was another attack in St Stephen’s Road the night before. Investigators say they are not linked.

The assaults come after a string of other unsolved sex offences on the Crab and Winkle Way, which connects Whitstable and Canterbury and starts about 800 meters from Gile Lane and the scene of Thursday’s assault.

Detectives believe a single sex pest is responsible for five incidents of indecent assault and exposure – including three in the Crab and Winkle – since January.

Of the October 2 attack, police spokesman Lisa Humphrys said: “At 2.46am, a 20-year-old woman contacted police to report a common assault and detectives are working to establish the circumstances around the alleged offence.

“The woman reported that she had been on a night out in Canterbury and as she walked along Giles Lane she was assaulted by an unknown man near a footpath next to the sports centre car park.”

The attack happened as the university celebrated its 50th anniversary and just days after thousands of students moved into university halls to start their academic careers.

Kent University waited four days before releasing a statement. Spokesman Martin Herrema said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance to the University of Kent. We are liaising with the police to assist in their investigation into the incident on campus last Thursday morning.”

There was another sex assault in St Stephen’s Road, around a mile from the university campus, at 1.30am on September 23.

A man approached and propositioned a teenage girl and then sexually assaulted her in the play park before leaving the area.

The suspect is aged 30 to 35, with short light brown hair, clean shaven and was wearing a white t-shirt.

Det Insp Max Davidson said: “Officers have been carrying out inquiries in the area following this incident.

“We are keen to hear from people who might recognise the e-fit or who saw anything that night which could help our investigation.

“It is possible that witnesses in the area that night may have perceived the victim and suspect as a couple, walking and talking together along St Stephen’s Road and on the recreation ground.”

Asked whether any of the university assaults were being investigated as date rapes involving sedatives, police spokesman Adam Westgarth said: “As part of our investigations into any serious offence, particularly those of a sexual nature, we will always follow all relevant lines of enquiry and in two of these cases, this includes sending items off for toxicology tests.

“However, there is nothing to suggest that a drug was used in the commission of the offences at this stage.”

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