A DOG fought off a man acting suspiciously after he grabbed its owner by the arm in a random attack.

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a woman in her 40s, who was walking her dog around Sholing, was confronted by a man in Botany Bay Road, who then grabbed her arm.

The woman's dog bit the man and he ran off.

She immediately flagged down two men in a white van, who attempted to find the offender.

They also helped the woman to get home as she was extremely distressed.

The suspicious man is described as:
• White with an olive complexion
• Pockmarked skin
• Approximately 30 years of age
• 6ft to 6ft 3ins tall
• Short mousey brown coloured hair in a side parting with a fringe which swept across his eye but was clippered short at the back.

He was wearing a red sailing jacket with grey sleeves which hung just below the waist with a hood, dark coloured casual trousers, dark coloured boots, headphones in his ears with white wires and carrying a rucksack over his shoulders with grey straps.

The incident happened between 9.30am and 10.10am on Friday, February 27.

Det Ins Amanda Horsburgh said: “We are particularly keen to speak to the two men in the white van who stopped to help the woman on Friday morning.

"They could hold vital information.

“This is a very unusual incident, particularly at this time of day, and we would encourage members of the public to report any similar suspicious activity.

“Obviously we would also like to speak to anyone who can help identify the suspicious man. If you know who he is, or have seen him in the area please contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact the Western Investigation team on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.