A STUDENT has spoken of her terrifying ordeal when a man pinned her to the floor, tried to rip her clothes off and rape her.
Three months ago today, the 22-year-old from Cheltenham was subjected to the attack while walking home from work.
The woman, who does not wish to be named, said the assault had left her scared to go out alone.
She is desperate to see the monster brought to justice.
During the attack, she said she cried and shouted for him to get off and believed the only reason she was not raped was because he was interrupted by a front door closing nearby and ran off.
The woman ran home and sat in her room crying before she told a flatmate, who rang the police.
She said: "Since the attack I have been constantly worrying and I am scared whenever I am out of my house.
"At night time, I find it hard to sleep and get worried I might be attacked again.
"He was just so forward with me, he didn't care about what he was doing. It is not fair for anyone to have that happen to them.
"It isn't fair that I should feel uncomfortable in my own home town. It has made me unsociable and so much more wary of people.
"My friends have said I seem different. I used to be able to talk to anybody, but I am a bit more quiet. It has changed the way I look at men. It is hard to trust people."
The brave student has continued with her studies and started work again, but now gets taxis everywhere she goes.
She said: "I heard stories of things happening to other women in Cheltenham and people I have told have been shocked.
"I just really don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else and that's why I have spoken about it now.
"Bringing him to justice will help me. I will feel safer if I knew he had been caught.
"I just want him to hand himself in. I don't think he realises how many people have been affected by it – it's not just me, but my friends and my family, who are not here to look after me.
"A couple of times I have been tempted to ask for the investigation to stop.
"It is hard to have to keep talking about it, but I have had a lot of support from the police."
The attempted rape took place as she walked along Brunswick Street in the early hours of February 3 – after Cheltenham Town Football Club beat Torquay United at Whaddon Road.
The attacker is described as being in his mid-20s, with dark hair, some facial hair and of stocky build. He was wearing a dark-coloured top and jeans. He fled in the direction of St Margaret's Road.
Police put together an artist's impression of the attacker, which the woman found emotionally draining as she had to remember as many details as possible about his face and features.
Around 4,500 leaflets featuring the suspect's portrait were distributed at the turnstiles after the final whistle of the Robins' home match with Bradford City last Saturday in a bid to catch the man.
Officers are also trying to track a cyclist, not thought to be a suspect, seen riding down Brunswick Street, between 3.30am and 4am on the night.
Information can be given by calling 101, quoting incident number 92 of February 3.
