A MIDDLE-aged woman was dragged into woods and sexually assaulted by a young man as she walked towards shops in broad daylight.

The 53-year-old victim, from Maidstone, was approached from behind by the man who pushed her over a fence as she walked along Sandling Lane towards Penenden Heath, near Maidstone.

He dragged her into nearby woodland and assaulted her, at about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

A police spokeswoman said: "This was a horrible experience for this lady and we're appealing to anybody who saw anything out of the ordinary, be that the offender walking up the road."

She said: "He took her purse and ran off into the trees, probably back along Sandling Lane and towards the Running Horse roundabout."

The attacker is described as a white man, aged between 20 to 25, 5ft6 tall and of medium build. He had short or shaven fair hair, pale skin, freckles on his arms and was wearing pale blue jeans, a white round neck T-shirt and a thick brown belt.

His victim was wearing a navy blue T-shirt, navy blue skirt and brown open-toed sandals. Anyone who saw the victim or her attacker in or near Sandling Lane on Wednesday afternoon should contact police on 01622 608189.