THIS is the predatory sex pest who attacked a young woman twice as she walked home from work.

The man pounced on the 20-year-old from behind, turning her around and sexually assaulting her.

With a grin on his face he asked her “how you doin’?” before she fought him off and he disappeared.

But chillingly he followed her as she continued her walk home, and 15 minutes later he brazenly struck again.

He managed to get in front of his victim and hide behind an advertising board on the opposite side of the road.

• Check back this afternoon to see the CCTV footage

He then ran across the road and grabbed her again before there was a struggle and she managed to break free.

The woman had been walking home from work in Southampton city centre when the frightening ordeal took place.

The first attack happened in Howard Road, Shirley, around 12.45am and the second about 15 minutes later on Shirley High Street, just a short distance away from the police station.

Detectives have today released CCTV footage of the man – which can be seen by logging onto dailyecho.co.uk – in the hope that somebody will recognise him.

On the night of the double attack it was wet and windy, but officers believe he would have been particularly noticeable as he was wearing dark trousers and a black shirt and no coat.

Extremely traumatised He was also wearing a belt with a mobile phone holder attached.

Police are appealing for witnesses and say anyone who saw the Shirley High Street incident may have thought it was a domestic argument.

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PC Michael Connolly, from Shirley CID, said: “The victim was obviously left extremely traumatised by this incident, particularly as the suspect chose to assault her in a main high street and was not put off by other members of the public who may have been walking or driving past.

“CCTV footage does show the roads were fairly quiet due to the time of night and weather being very wet and windy. We would especially like to trace two women who can be seen walking an Alsatian-type dog past Shirley police station just prior to the incident taking place.”

The suspect is described as white, around 6ft and aged between 30 and 35. He had an oval shaped face, a big nose and uneven teeth. He was clean shaven and had short dark hair.

Anyone with any information about the attack on August 21 should contact PC Connolly at Shirley CID on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.