AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a flasher exposed himself to a woman in a Hampshire graveyard and then punched her in the face.

The attacker struck in the middle of the day in Winchester’s West Hill Cemetery.

Now it’s prompted police who are hunting the flasher to urge residents not to walk alone through the cemetery, which is a well used shortcut to the city’s university from St James Lane.

Stanmore PCSO Gavin Cooper told a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting: “A man walked through, exposed himself to a female and then assaulted her – he punched her in the face and then walked off.

“It just goes to show there are individuals out there who don’t care what time of day it is. I would steer clear of the cemetery – that’s my personal view – if you’re alone. If you’re in groups, fine.”

The cemetery is frequently used by students as a shortcut to Winchester University from St James Lane but is closed at night. No details of the victim have surfaced.

After the meeting PCSO Cooper said: “I’ve not come across anything like that in my years working. Hopefully it’s a one-off and we don’t see it again.” The incident happened on November 10.

Winchester CID has “a few leads” on the case, he added, but no suspects have been identified.

The cemetery saw a number of sex attacks against young women in the early 1990s.