A MAN was sexually assaulted as he walked home from a night out in Southampton city centre.

The 32-year-old victim was held at knifepoint by a man, while another a seriously sexually assaulted him.

Police are hoping the person pictured will be able to come forward as a vital witness following the attack.

The victim was walking home after an evening out at Leisure World and left Grosvenor Casino about 2am on Friday.

He walked along West Quay Road onto Shirley High Street down Paynes Road and onto Millbrook Road West, crossing to Third Avenue.

He passed ‘Goals 5-a-side’ football centre in Third Avenue where a gang of four or five men started shouting at him.

The victim carried on walking and some of the men who he had seen shouting got into a vehicle that pulled up and drove away.

Two remaining men then followed the victim as he passed the playing field next to ‘Goals 5-a-Side’ football centre at Millbrook Park then one of them approached him, twisted his left arm behind his back whilst the other held a small knife, described as a pen knife, to his face.

The second man then seriously sexually assaulted the victim before both suspects walked off.

Officers are trying to trace a man wearing a blue short sleeved top who used the cash-point at the nearby Texaco Petrol Station around 3.35am.

Detective Inspector Roger Middle who is leading the inquiry said: “The Texaco petrol station is near to where the incident happened and there is a very good chance this man may have seen those involved and be a vital witness. I am today releasing two CCTV images of the man in the hope he will come forward to help us.”

“This was undoubtedly a very unusual type of attack and we want to find those responsible as soon as possible”.

Police have now issued descriptions of the two men.

The first man is Asian with a pony tail, in his 30s, around 5ft 11ins of slim build and wearing a dark jacket and trousers.

The second man is white, in his early 40s, about 5ft 11ins and of a stocky build. He was wearing a light coloured jacket and has very few teeth.

As well as trying to trace the man seen using the cash-point, detectives are also appealing for anyone who was in the Millbrook Park area at the time of the assault and saw this incident or has any information to contact them. They should call Shirley CID, quoting Operation Tabaret, on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.