Woman indecently assaulted by man wearing towel at Melbourne beachside

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak with following an indecent assault in Melbourne earlier this month.

A woman was walking her dog along the foreshore path near the jetty in Sandringham when she was approached by a man wearing a towel around his waist about 7.30pm on January 3.

The man exposed himself and indecently assaulted the woman, aged in her 40s.

Victoria Police said he fled the scene after being "disturbed by some passers-by", but the woman managed to take a photo of him before he ran away.

It is believed he may have left the area in a silver hatchback.

Moorabbin Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives are investigating the case.