Police still hunting rail trail attacker

POLICE have released a description of the man currently suspected to be responsible for at least two reported attacks along the Bellarine Rail Trail in the past two weeks.

The first report came last week, with a 21-year-old female retail employee from the nearby Leopold Gateway Plaza grabbed from behind on Wednesday, September 12, while walking home from a shift.

She did not sustain any injuries, but later took to social media to describe the terrifying ordeal and said: “I told myself I was going to die”.

Six days later, an 18-yearold Leopold woman was grabbed by an unknown male while riding along the popular walking trail at 11.30pm. The woman fought off the man, who was armed with a knife.

“The man is perceived as caucasian in appearance and aged in his 40s with a pale complexion, short grey/ brown hair and a medium to heavy build,” a police spokeswoman said.

“Victoria Police takes the personal safety of every member of the community very seriously and local detectives, along with specialist unit detectives from Melbourne, are investigating all reported incidents.”

Authorities are still investigating whether the two confirmed incidents are linked.

Police could not confirm reports of a third attack circulating on social media by a mother who claimed her daughter had been approached on the Bellarine Rail Trail last Wednesday afternoon.

Geelong police have committed to a strong presence in the area, with officers seen yesterday patrolling on quad bikes.