A FOURTH sexual assault in Finchley last week has prompted further appeals from police for information from potential witnesses.

A spate of sexual assaults have been reported in the Finchley area since October 19, when two women were attacked between 6pm and 8pm on Elm Park Road and Clifton Avenue.

The latest incident took place on Friday, October 28, as a woman was walking in parkland in the Briar House Estate Trust, close to The Avenue, between 12.30 and 12.50pm.

Superintendent Mark Bennett of Barnet Police said: "The report of a fourth incident last Friday is deeply concerning.

"We continue to work closely with specialist units to focus on solving this series of offending.

"Our top priority is to protect and reassure our residents, and do everything we can to help make them safe."

The third assault took place on Sunday 23 October, at around 10.50pm on Essex Park.

The women, aged in their 20s and 30s, have been approached by a man from behind, who has then covered their mouths.

The women are then ordered to be quiet, and in one case was threatened harm, before the attacker touches them in a sexual manner.

The man has run away when the victims have screamed and resisted the attacks.

The suspect has been described as having a tanned complexion, either dark-skinned European or Arabic, or light-skinned Asian in appearance.

He is believed to be in his mid 30's, 5feet 8inches to 6feet tall, of a slim build and smells of cigarette smoke.

He was wearing jeans with black formal type shoes and during the incident on October 28, he was wearing a T-shirt.

Detective Inspector Caroline Haines said: "Despite these attacks taking place on side streets around Finchley Central and West Finchley Underground stations, we understand that there may be a number of potential eyewitnesses.

"We urge anyone who may have information regarding all four assaults to speak to us, and any other women who may have been attacked in a similar manner, to come forward and speak to our specialist team.

"It is possible that eyewitnesses may not have realised the nature of the assaults in the belief that they were some kind of dispute, which did not need public or police intervention.

"The reality is that these women have gone through a frightening experience, and I urge anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to come forward and speak to us."

Anyone with information can call the incident room on 0208 733 5032 or if you wish to remain anonymanonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.