Random assault rattles Melbourne woman

A young Melbourne writer says she feels unsafe in her own home after a random assault that left her feeling helpless.

The woman, 'Laura', 29, was just 10 minutes from her Brunswick North home on the afternoon of July 9 when verbally abused and groped by a man who also pulled her hair.

"I was in too much shock to fight him off," Laura told reporters on Friday as she appealed for public help to find her attacker.

"I always imagined I would if something like that happened - that I would fight them off and run away.

"You hope something like this never happens to you, but as soon as you know something is possible, that you experience it, you can't forget that."

Laura stressed how ordinary the man looked, describing him as a Caucasian and about 50 years old with a medium build.

"It's disgusting and has made me scared to walk around in my own home," she said of the attack which happened while she was wearing headphones.

A police spokesperson said the attack was "extremely aggressive, very unprovoked" and that there is potential for the man to strike again.

Police are appealing for witnesses or for the accused man to come forward.