A woman was blindfolded and indecently assaulted by a man who covered his face with a plastic bag.

The 27-year-old Chingford woman had a screwdriver held to her throat throughout the ordeal which took place in woodland near the Waterworks Roundabout, Walthamstow, on Friday night.

The young woman spoke to the man during the incident in order to defuse the situation and police have praised this action, saying that it probably averted a more serious assault.

The victim was getting into her car in Woodford New Road at about 11.50pm when a man with a red and white plastic bag over his head came up to her and demanded money.

He then took her into woodland where the woman said that she only had two rings and he gave them back to her after she said that they were not genuine stones.

She lost one of the rings during the incident which hasn't yet been found.

The woman was then taken further into the woodland near a pond and blindfolded by an item of her clothing, although the police are not saying at this stage which one, and forced to lie down. The indecent assault then took place. The man then rushed off into dense woodland.

A police spokesman said: "She acted bravely and spoke to him continuously throughout.

"This may have averted a more serious assault. The ordeal lasted between ten and 15 minutes."

The police believe that the man is local as he appeared to know a lot about the woodland and they think that he may have bought the bag from a nearby shop.

At one stage the bag did fly off allowing the victim to get a good look at her attacker.

The man is described as white, in his late 30s or early 40s, 5ft 6ins tall, of stocky build with fair hair on his arms and legs.

He had a beer belly and mousey blond hair which was close cut. He had stubble, a double chin and a thick neck.

He was wearing knee-length white shorts, a two-tone T-shirt with a faded motif on the front and scuffed white trainers which had dirty white or grey laces.

He was also wearing brown gloves. For more information ring the investigating officer Det Con Deaney at Chingford CID on 529 8666 or Crimestoppers on 0800 55111.

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