Man charged with rape of Melbourne woman in park

A man who turned himself in following a sexual assault in a Melbourne park has been charged with rape.

A 32-year-old woman was walking a friend's dog in Thornbury on Saturday night when she crossed the road into Mayer Park to avoid a man acting suspiciously.

However he allegedly followed her, claiming he needed help finding something, before pulling out a knife, pushing the woman to the ground and sexually assaulting her, police say.

She managed to grab the knife and stab him before running with the dog onto the road and flagging down a passing car.

The woman was taken to hospital but has since been released.

Police say a 21-year-old homeless man went to a police station yesterday.

He was charged with rape, false imprisonment and theft and is due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

Saturday's attack follows a string of high-profile assaults on women in public places across Melbourne.

Courtney Herron, 25, was bashed and killed at Parkville's Royal Park in May. Henry Hammond is charged with her murder.

In January, 21-year-old Aiia Maasarwe was raped, murdered and set on fire near a Bundoora tram stop. Her attacker, 21-year-old Codey Herrmann, is awaiting sentence.

Budding comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, was raped and murdered while walking home through Princes Park at Carlton North in June last year.

Jaymes Todd is appealing against his life sentence over the attack.