Melbourne manhunt continues for sex assault offender

Victorian police are appealing to witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted while trying to walk home after a night out.

The 21-year-old woman had been at the Orange Whip nightclub in Ringwood in Melbourne’s east before a friend drove her to her mother’s house in Montrose.

Upon discovering no one was home, the woman made the decision to walk 3km to her own house in Mt Evelyn.

As she made her way along the Swansea Road walking track sometime between 2am and 4am, police believe she was attacked.

“As a result of that assault she's suffered some minor injuries, but as you'd expect she's quite distraught,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

“After the attacker fled it's believed the victim tried to call triple zero but her mobile phone battery went flat.

“She had to wait until she was able to wave down a passing motorist to get help".

Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad and SES volunteers scoured more than 250m of dense bushland beside the track, collecting items of clothing as evidence today.

Police are now appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the attack.