Police are hunting an intruder after a woman was attacked in her south west London home.
The victim, in her 20s, had fallen asleep in the living room when she was woken at 2.45am by an intruder on Bedford Hill, Balham.
The man told her to keep quiet and then attempted to sexually assault her, but the woman screamed and he fled the scene on May 6.
Footage later recorded a man, matching the suspect's description, walking on Streatham High Road.
Scotland Yard said the female was left extremely distressed and she is being supported by specially trained officers.
The inquiry is being treated as an allegation of attempted rape.
The suspect is described as black, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, slim, but not athletic build, about 5ft 7ins with short afro hair.
At this time, the sex attack is being treated as an isolated incident.
Detective Sergeant Andy Walker, of the Met’s South West Area unit, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal and the victim is being fully supported by officers specially trained to investigate sexual offences.
“We believe this man must have been looking for an opportunity to enter a home, he is clearly a danger to women and we need to find him.
“We are appealing for the public's help and releasing CCTV and an e-fit of a man we urgently want to trace. I am asking anyone who can help to call police, or you can call Crimestoppers who will never ask for your name. Officers are doing all they can to find this man, but we believe it is the public who may have the vital information that will help us trace and arrest this man.”
