POLICE believe a man who sexually assaulted a woman in East Oxford may have exposed himself to another woman in December.

A 34-year-old woman was walking along Bullingdon Road at about 4am on Sunday. When she got to the junction with St Mary’s Road, a man cycled into her causing them both to topple to the floor.

The man then sexually assaulted her before cycling off along St Mary’s Road.

Detectives said last night the attack bears similarities to an incident in Chester Street, off Iffley Road, in December.

They have released an e-fit picture of a man they want to speak to about both incidents.

In the earlier incident, on December 11, a 22-year-old woman was followed by a man on a bike in Chester Street at about 3.30am when he exposed himself to her before cycling off.

Det Sgt Claire Storry said: “In both incidents the man has been described as mixed race, in his early 30s, wearing a distinctive black puffer-style jacket, jeans and a loose fitting beanie-style hat.”

Det Sgt Storry said the 22-year-old victim called police on Sunday to say she had seen the man who exposed himself to her in the East Oxford area on a bike.

She appealed to anyone with information about him to get in touch.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a man robbed an East Oxford newsagents and stole about £80 in cash after two failed attempts earlier in the day.

He walked into Rana Brothers, in Magdalen Road, at about 4.30pm with a knife and demanded cash from the woman behind the till.

However, she thought he was referring to the cash machine and directed him outside.

At 5.20pm, he returned with two knives and approached the till, but the woman’s husband appeared and the man left.

Just over two hours later, he entered Iffley News in Iffley Road, again with two knives, and forced the cashier to hand over cash.

He is described as white, aged between 20 and 30, about 6ft tall and of medium build.

The robber had a scarf and hat covering most of his face. He was wearing a dark blue boiler suit and a green or grey hooded top with white trainers.

His dark coloured beanie-style hat had green, grey or white circles.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.