A 37-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a serious sex assault at knifepoint, police said at the weekend.

Detective Superintendent Nicholas Pedro added that police had not ruled out more victims.

The attack on a 31-year-old woman as she walked to work at about 6.30am last Sunday happened at the junction of Fairylands Road and Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke.

The arrested man is from the Pembroke area.

Mr Pedro said yesterday: “What we have learnt is that the suspect appears to have been looking for victims in the City of Hamilton prior to the attack on the 31-year-old lady on Fairylands Road.

“We are asking anyone who thought they may have seen someone fitting the description of the suspect to please come forward and speak to us.

“We have seen some movement on CCTV that gives us cause to think that this may be the case.”

Mr Pedro added: “I would really like people to come forward and speak to us if they believe they may have been targeted or seen this individual acting suspiciously, not just in the City of Hamilton, but anywhere else for that matter.”

The attacker was said to be brown-skinned, dressed in black, wearing a black helmet with a dark-tinted visor and riding a red motorbike.

Mr Pedro added that earlier advice he had given on how to stay safe in public had upset some people.

He told the public that “good advice ... on any given day” included being aware of surroundings, carry a mobile phone, and “don’t take any unnecessary risks if you’re out there at that time of day”.

Mr Pedro said: “There was the suggestion that my advice was ill-advised for sexual assault victims.

“I want to make a note that my comments were not in relation to this case or sexual assaults specifically, but was general safety advice for people who may be out and about in public, especially during the dark.

“I wanted to make that clarification as it appears to have offended some people. It certainly was not my intention.”

• Anyone who can help the inquiry should contact the police crime division on 247-1340 or the main number 295-0011. The independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline is on 800-8477

• On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on what we consider to be a controversial or contentious story. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.