Detectives believe a fat sex attacker who has targeted at least three women in Ashford could be a "Mr Average".

DNA evidence has been collected from more than 80 men across the borough in a large-scale search for the culprit, but so far no matches have been found.

But senior Kent Police officers leading the manhunt believe it is simply a matter of time before they find the attacker - who has struck at least three times since last summer.

Officers have been pounding the pavements to canvass more than 5,000 homes, distributing leaflets with an efit of the suspect and undertaking DNA swabs.

Given the attacker is not already known to police, detectives believe he might be married with children.

DI Richard Vickery said: "This person is known to somebody locally, they either work in the area, live there, or they are frequent visitors.

"This individual knows the area very well. Perhaps they have relatives who live in the area.

"It might be somebody completely innocuous, but I would encourage people to have a look at the efits.

"Even if they know someone who perhaps looks like the efits, but would have nothing to do with this sort of offending, I would urge them to come forward.

"If they are innocent, we can very quickly eliminate people from the inquiry."

Anyone with information is urged to phone the incident room at Kent Poilce on 01303 289600 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

For more on the police manhunt, pick up a copy of this week's Kentish Express - out Thursday.

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