Hamilton police need the public's help after someone attacked and sexually assaulted a sex worker this weekend.

Police say the woman was standing alone on Barton Street near Birch Avenue around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 when a man approached her.

They walked to a secluded area a few blocks away, police say. Then the man physically attacked and sexually assaulted her.

In a news release, police said they were letting people know about this incident in case the man is intentionally targeting people working within the sex trade.

The suspect is described as a man with a dark complexion in his late 20s to early 30s. He is between five foot six and five foot seven, with a heavy build, short black hair and black scruffy facial hair.

Police say he wore a grey/black hooded sweatshirt and a black baseball cap.

Anyone with information should call Det. Candace Culp from the Hamilton Police Service sexual assault unit at 905-540-5545 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.