A 24-year-old woman was sexually assaulted as she walked along an alleyway in daylight in a Kent village.

Detectives have issued a computer image of the offender who struck at Halling, near Rochester. They say he had a gold horseshoe-shaped ring on his right finger.

The victim was in the alley running between Vicarage Road and Cemetery Road when she was assaulted by a man who ran off towards Vicarage Road and Vicarage Close.

Bill Calder, pastor of nearby Halling Baptist Church, said: “It’s quite shocking to think it could have happened in the village. “I will mention the attack to the congregation, then perhaps any potential witnesses may turn up.”

The offender is thought to be aged between 37 and 45. He is white, clean-shaven and of medium build, with a distinctive mole above the left side of his top lip, and a lazy right eye.

He has short, thick, receding hair, greying at the sides and top, and bushy grey eyebrows. He was wearing a dark-blue, long-sleeved T-shirt with a bleach-effect pattern, and black jogging pants.

DC Paula Patterson, of Medway Police, said: “The alleyway is a popular cut-through for dog-walkers. We’re sure someone must have seen the offender in the surrounding residential area or even know him, and are appealing for them to contact us.”

* Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident, which happened at about 9.30am on Monday, October 2, are asked to contact police on 01634 884035 or Kent CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.