Woman foils sexual assault with umbrella

A 57-year-old woman foiled an attempted sexual assaultin Abbotsford, B.C., when she struck at her attacker with an umbrella.

The woman was walking on Discovery Trail in the 3600 block ofClearbrook Road just before 5 p.m. PT on March 22. She had noticed a man walking ahead of herbefore he rounded a curve in the path and she lost sight of him.

The man, who had dropped his pants,then confronted the woman and tried to grab her. After fendinghim off withher umbrella, the victim ran to the safety of a nearby picnic area,police said in a statement releasedon Monday morning.

"He hadhis white pants pulled down to about mid-thigh and he lunged at her and attempted to grab her, said Const. Ian Macdonald of the Abbotsford Police Department.

"She very correctly and courageously then swung her umbrella at him, created some distance and began running," he said.

The suspect, who drove away in a white vehicle,is described as Caucasian,approximately 60 tall, in his late 30s and ofslim build. He was wearing white pants and a black hoodie.

The vehicle was a white, four-door sedan with a license plate containing thenumbers 784.

Police have issued a composite sketch of the suspect, and are warning people to use extra caution on trails and less-populated areas,and walkin pairs if possible.

Google Map: Discovery Trail and ClearbrookRoad, Abbotsford