Woman seriously injured in sexual assault in alley

Image caption, The woman was pulled into an alleyway by a male attacker

A woman in her 50s has suffered serious facial injuries during a sexual assault in Londonderry, police have said.

It happened on the Lecky Road in the early hours of Sunday.

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of related offences and he remains in police custody at this time.

The woman was approached by an unknown man who pulled her into a nearby alleyway, where he sexually assaulted her, repeatedly hit her face, and banged her head off a wall.

The woman required hospital treatment for her injuries.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "She sustained serious facial and other injuries as a result of this terrifying ordeal that she was only able to escape from after her attacker let her go.

"The woman was able to then raise the alarm for help, and the suspect fled the scene on foot."

Police have asked anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident to contact them.

'Horrific ordeal'

Image caption, MLA Sin茅ad McLaughlin says women should be able to feel safe in the street

SDLP MLA Sin茅ad McLaughlin said: "It was an absolutely horrific ordeal for that woman and my thoughts are with her and her family as she overcomes the physical assault, but also the emotional trauma that probably will never go away for her.

"Women need to feel safe in our streets during the day and in the evening and this woman was just going about her own business," McLaughlin added.