At approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday June 1st, the Regina Police Service (RPS) received a complaint of a sexual assault in the west alley of the 1800 block of Scarth Street.

“It appears the victim was leaving a shopping centre downtown and was sort of cornered in the alley by an individual that was following her,” RPS spokesperson Elizabeth Popowich said.

Police say they are now looking for a male described as black, in his 20’s with a scruffy beard and glasses.

According to police, the incident did not last long because the victim’s cell phone rang which appeared to have scared off the attacker.

Popowich added that the attack appeared to be random and the victim did not mention that she knew her assailant. According to Statistics Canada just 20 per cent of sexual assaults are committed by strangers.

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“Of the crimes reported to us, we find that in many of them the victim knows the assailant, knows the perpetrator and may even have a short term acquaintance or relationship,” Popowich said.

Molly Aspinall is a victim case worker with Family Services Regina. She works with many sexual assault victims who knew their attacker and say’s often the victim is too scared to report an incident for many reasons.

“If they don’t feel comfortable being within the justice system, or if they have safety concerns about what could happen,” Aspinall said.

Police say it is important to report any and all attacks because it decreases the chances of an assailant hurting anyone in the future.