DETECTIVES are hunting a man who carried out a serious sexual assault on a girl of 17 after offering to walk her home.

The girl had been drinking in The Party Bar at Folkestone, also known as Jolsons nightclub.

Her ordeal began after she sat on a wall outside a Tourist Information Centre and was approached by a man with a bald or shaven head.

She accepted an offer from him to walk her home but then was attacked in a walkthrough under a viaduct between Mount Pleasant Road and Eastfields, known locally as "The Rat Run".

A group of passers by came to the rescue and the offender ran off down Bradstone Road in the direction of Clarence Street or Dover Road.

The offender is stocky, thought to be aged between 20 and 35, between 5ft 9 and 6ft 2in tall with dark skin. He was wearing dark jeans.

He may have a mark on his face from where he was hit with a belt buckle by one of the passers by who intervened.

The incident happened at around 2.30am on Saturday, June 2.

Police would like to hear from taxi drivers and members of the public who were on their way home from pubs and clubs and may have seen the girl walk with the offender from Jolsons to the viaduct.

Det Sgt Mick Jones said: "This is an isolated incident and I would like to reassure the community that we have a number of officers investigating it.

"I would ask if anyone has any information, they contact the incident room on 01303 289600. Alternatively if you want to remain anonymous call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. This call is free and you may be eligible for a reward.”