Two women were locked in a car and one was sexually assaulted after they accepted a lift from a man near Unit 17 nightclub in Ipswich on New Year’s Day.

Ipswich Star: The sexual assualt happened in the Rushmere Road area of Ipswich. Picture: GOOGLE MAPSThe sexual assualt happened in the Rushmere Road area of Ipswich. Picture: GOOGLE MAPS (Image: Archant)

On Monday January 1, between 1am and 2am, two women, both aged in their 20s, accepted a lift from an unknown man close to the nightclub in Cardinal Park.

On arrival at a location near Rushmere Road, the man locked the doors, trapping both women in the car until one of the women convinced him to let them out.

Soon after, outside the car, the man sexually assaulted one of the women.

A police spokeswoman said one of the women then managed to flag down a passing car and a man stopped and helped them.

Police are keen to hear from any witnesses who may have seen the offender approach the victims or who saw them getting into what is believed to be a red car close to Unit 17 between midnight and 2am.

Police would also like to hear from the man who helped the women near Rushmere Road between 1.30am and 2.30am.

Anyone with information should contact Suffolk Police by calling 101, quoting crime reference number 767/18, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.