A woman was sexually assaulted as she walked along a path at a beach in Perth’s north this morning.

The woman, aged in her 40s, was walking a shared path 300m north of the Mullaloo beach car park about 5am when a naked man grabbed her from behind before he dragged her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

He then fled south on foot.

Det-First Class Const. Faye Forshaw said the woman, who walks the area almost daily, had been left traumatised by the attack.

“She’s doing as well as could be expected,” she said.

“We’ve spent the whole day with her today. Physically she’s OK but she’s obviously quite shocked, upset and traumatised by the incident.”

The offender is believed to be aged between 18 and 25 years of age.

He had brown skin, an athletic build, was clean shaven and had short brown hair.

No witnesses have yet come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.