Police today released CCTV footage in an appeal for anyone with information about the sexual assault of a woman in St Kilda last month to come forward.

The 27-year-old woman was walking along the Esplanade at around 4.40am on Sunday 29 April when a man with an Irish accent began yelling obscenities at her, investigators have been told.

CCTV ... Police say the man followed the 27-year-old victim after shouting obscenities at her.

The man followed the woman along Robe Street where he is reported to have sexually assaulted her and punched her several times to the face.

Residents in the area began yelling at the man and he then left the scene. He was later seen in Fitzroy Street in St Kilda about 4.30am.