Woman punched in face while walking her dog

AN ATTACKER punched a woman in the face and tried to drag her into woods while she was walking her dog, police said.

The assault occurred at around 2:15pm on 5 January on a walkway known as Chancelot Path, near Clark Road in Edinburgh.

Lothian and Borders Police believe the attack may be linked to a similar incident last Thursday in the city.

A police spokesman said: “At this time we are keeping an open mind to the possibility that the assault may be linked to a similar incident that happened exactly a week later where a woman was assaulted in the Gillespie Road area of the city.

“As well as carrying out increased patrols in the areas where both assaults occurred, officers will be visiting the scene of each incident this Thursday in a bid to speak to pedestrians and gather information.”

The woman was grabbed from behind by a man in the attack and a struggle took place before the suspect made off.

He was white, aged 20 to 30, 6ft tall, with a medium build, short dark hair, dark eyes, a drawn complexion, large hands and protruding ears.