The victim of a violent attack has spoken out to warn women to be on their guard after dark.

The 29-year-old woman was left shaken and bruised after being grabbed and violently attacked as she stepped out of her car in the early hours of Saturday.

She was just yards from her home and fortunately managed to struggle with the man up the steps to her front door, where she was able to unleash her two dogs.

The man made off through Riddell's Bay Road, Warwick, but is believed to have been bitten by one of her dogs.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she did not believe the incident at 2.30 a.m. on Saturday was connected to any other of the recent attacks on women around the Island.

But she said, nevertheless, women should be careful.

"I want to warn women to be on their guard and to know that it could happen to them,'' said the victim.

"People should be aware 24 hours a day and should take notice of what is around them.

"If people can get someone to take them home, then they definitely should do so. People need to be careful.'' Last night a Police spokeswoman said: "There has been much speculation about the nature of these incidents and the manner in which they should have or could have been investigated.

"Suffice it is to say that although such concern can be understood, groundless and misinformed theorising will not assist matters, and could results in unwarranted panic.'' Chief Inspector Adams of the Major Incident Room, has been heading the investigations into the incidents and "believes there is no obvious connection between the incidents''.

Police also revealed that one person has been remanded in custody in connection with the serious sexual assault in Southampton last month and one arrest has been made for another assault in Southampton. The suspect in that incident has been bailed and active investigations are continuing into the other incidents "with some progress being made''.

Last Saturday's victim needed treatment at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for bruising and cuts, but has returned to work and said, with the help of her boyfriend, who she lives with, she was just trying to put the ordeal behind her.

Victimwarns: Be on guard after dark "I have got a few bruises and scratches, but I think I'm pretty lucky.

"I'm very shaken and am trying to busy myself at work so I don't think about it.

"I think it's very infuriating that I have to sleep with a machete under my bed now because of this.'' The Royal Gazette reported yesterday how The Women's Resource Centre was calling for mace or pepper sprays to be legalised to enable women to empower themselves.

Last night, the victim supported that call and said she would carry a pepper spray if they were made legal.

She added: "I know there would be instances where sprays would be used by the wrong people for the wrong reasons, but I don't think it would be common and I would definitely push for it.'' There have been a number of attacks on women in recent weeks.

The latest incident on Saturday is the fourth to occur in Southampton.

At the end of August, a man broke into a house in East Avenue, near Horseshoe Bay, and sexually assaulted a woman as she lay in her bed. He has since pleaded guilty to the attack in court.

In October, a teenaged girl was raped as she walked along the Railway Trail near Tribe Road Number Two in Southampton at about 5.30 p.m.

And then, just days later, a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted near the Jehovah's Witness church in Heron Bay, Middle Road, Southampton, in the early hours of the morning.

And just last Saturday, a 47-year-old woman was raped and had two front teeth punched out as she walked through St. John's Cemetery in Pembroke at about 11 p.m.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Young contacted The Royal Gazette yesterday and said the United Bermuda Party was eager to see mace or pepper sprays made legal, too.

She said: "We, in the UBP, along with most women in the community, are very concerned about the increase in attacks on our women.

"I've talked to a number of women who want to have a rally, change the law to allow us to carry mace, or do anything they can to curb this violence perpetrated against us.

"There is an increase in the level of that violence as well, and it is making us feel very vulnerable.

"Sexual assault and violence against women knows no racial, economic or age barriers.

"The UBP will support any Government endeavour that is initiated to combat this recent spate of attacks.'' Community activist Charles Spanswick urged women to carry dye sprays, which can be used against an attacker and leave a thick green foam over the surface and a stain that remains on skin for up to seven days and is non-removable from clothes. If sprayed on someone's face is can block out their vision.

He said: "Mace and pepper sprays are not legal, but these spray dyes are and they are very popular in the US and Canada.

"They make it difficult for an attacker because there is nothing they can do to remove the stain for a number of days.'' The spray dyes cost just under $20 and can be obtained by calling 292-4297.