- The woman was walking towards Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, on November 19
- Gemma said the suspect came up behind her and assaulted her before fleeing
- The 31-year-old urged him to do the right thing and come forward to police
Police have issued a composite image of a man who groped a woman from behind as she listened to meditation music on an early morning walk in Melbourne.
The woman, a 31-year-old lawyer named Gemma, had been walking south on Eades Street towards Fitzroy Gardens at around 6.30am on November 19.
She had stopped at the intersection of Albert Street when an unknown man appeared behind her.
Victoria Police said she crossed the road and continued walking along the street when the man groped her genitals from behind.
Police have issued a composite image of a man who groped a woman from behind as she listened to meditation music on an early morning walk in Melbourne
She screamed at the man, who ran off through Fitzroy Gardens.
Gemma has now spoken out to urge the perpetrator to hand himself in to police.
She had decided to go for a walk because it was a ‘beautiful Sunday morning,’ she told reporters on Friday.
‘As I was walking down towards the gardens, I noticed a man was following me,’ she said.
‘And he kept following me. I stopped near the road because I realised there were cars there. He suddenly rushed up behind me and sexually assaulted me.’
She added: ‘I felt incredibly shaken up. I felt very emotional and quite scared because of the way he rushed at me.’
Gemma (pictured) said she felt ‘incredibly shaken up’ after the incident on November 19
Fortunately, someone who was driving past stopped to help Gemma.
She added: ‘I think it is very concerning somebody would do this in broad daylight. We should all be able to feel safe to walk in our city.
‘My message to him would be to please do the right thing and come forward to police.’
Police have released a composite image of a man they think can help them with their inquiries.
He is been described as Caucasian, about 180cm tall and aged in his late 20s with an average build, long thick mousy-brown hair and a distinct nose.
He was wearing a blue shirt at the time.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.