DETECTIVES hunting a young man who seriously sexually assaulted a woman during a burglary at her Kent home are today following up several new leads.

Yesterday officers appealed for help in catching the youngster who robbed and indecently assaulted the 75-year-old grandmother in her home at Cheriton, near Folkestone.

They are hoping a woolly hat worn by the attacker, who is thought to be aged between 16 and 18, could hold the key to the investigation.

The victim, who lives with her husband, was on her own at home at around 3pm on Friday, May 27, when the offences took place.

The young man, who is believed to be aged between 16 and 18, entered the woman’s house from the back garden.

He confronted her, demanded money and stole several hundred pounds from her handbag before seriously sexually assaulting her.

Det Chief Insp Dean Barnes, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a particularly shocking crime on a defenceless elderly woman and an horrendous experience for her.

“She has suffered a traumatic ordeal which has caused distress to her and her family and for the officers who are involved in this investigation.” The woman is now in the care of her family and Kent Police.

The attacker is said to be a young white man, about 5ft 8ins tall and of slim build. He is described as being fresh and thin faced, with pale skin and clean shaven. He has thin lips and small eyes.

He is further described as having a boyish voice with a local or southern accent. He was wearing a long sleeved plain khaki top, with no emblems, and dark trousers. He had a plain black or dark navy woolly hat, which was too big for him and had a high crown to it. The hat had a 4ins turn-up and the young man had pulled it down to the top of his eyebrows.

DCI Barnes added: "We are urging the public to come forward if they know someone who matches the description, if they saw anything unusual or suspicious in and around the Weymouth Road area around the time of the attack, or if they believe they have any other information that will help us to catch this individual.

"A team of specialist detectives from our major crime department is working closely with officers from the South East Kent area on this. Patrols are being stepped up and we have set up a special incident room hotline number for people to call with information.”

People with any information should call the incident room hotline on 01303 289600. Alternatively, people can call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Calls to this number are free, you do not have to give your name and you may be eligible for a cash reward.