An 18-year-old woman has been attacked near an alley in Timaru.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Quested said the woman was walking alone on Pukaki St when she was attacked by a male near the alley leading to Tekapo St at about 12.20am today.
She managed to fight the man off and escaped, running towards Glenwood Ave.
A police investigation is ongoing.
Police were providing the woman with support following the attack.
Police asked that anyone who saw or heard anything in the Pukaki St, Glenwood Ave area in the early hours of this morning to please contact Detective Matthew Kay at the Timaru Police Station on (03) 6879 853.