DETECTIVES in Southampton hunting a violent robber who preys on women in secluded alleyways believe he may be the same man who has raped three city residents.

Police have revealed they are firmly linking two separate incidents which took place within hours of each other on different sides of the city where women were punched in the face and robbed just moments after getting off buses.

And because of the description of the attacker there is a possible link to the hunt for the multiple rapist known to have preyed on three women over the last two years.

In the first robbery, in a secluded alleyway near Croydon Close, Lordshill, a 53-year-old woman was attacked as she made her way home at around 2.05pm on Friday. She had just got off a bus on Lordshill Way.

Her attacker engaged her in conversation by asking her the time before punching her in the face and stealing her handbag and its £60 contents. The badly shaken woman did not need hospital treatment.

Police have revealed her attacker has a distinctive gap in his front teeth, like the man being sought for three rapes.

DC Charlie Thain, of Shirley CID said: "The victim has told us she noticed he had either his front teeth missing or they were black. He should be fairly identifiable.

"It may be linked to the rapes. It could be that he has changed his motive from that of a sexual nature to money."

In the second incident, just four hours later at 6.10pm a 27-year-old partially deaf West End woman was left with a cut lip after she was accosted by a scruffy man in an alleyway near her Helford Gardens home.

She had just got off a bus on the A27. Her attacker had fol-lowed her across the busy road, in the process making a blue van stop, before assaulting the woman. DC Alan Setford said the victim lost sight of her attacker and was unaware she was being pursued until she was grabbed.. She grappled with him as he tried to steal her bag and was punched in the face.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Stewart, leading the massive hunt for the rapist, said: "We can't rule out the possibility the incidents may be linked to our enquiry but we have no positive information yet."

The man being sought for the two attacks is described as being white, around 5ft 10in tall, of slim build with gaunt features. He had short dark hair and was wearing either a navy blue tracksuit or black bomber jacket.

Anyone with any information on the Lordshill incident is urged to contact Shirley CID. Anyone with any information on the second robbery should con-tact Hedge End CID.

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