A man has dragged a teenager into a secluded CBD laneway, with large gates he knew he could lock, and sexually assaulted her.

The man held the young woman captive behind the high metal gates before attacking her.

Detective Sergeant Dale Lapham said the lane, used for garbage disposal, was unlocked for a three-hour window each night.

“What concerns us is how he knew this would be an area he could take someone,” he said.

“It was unfortunate that it was open for him to drag her off the road.”