SURREY Police believe a woman found unconscious and surrounded by “a number of men” outside Farnham Library in the early hours of Sunday (December 9) had been sexually assaulted.

Officers were called at around 12.50am after a member of the public found the woman on the pavement “in the West Street area” near the library and called the emergency services, expressing concern for her welfare.

It is thought the woman could have been left on the pavement for as long as one hour and 20 minutes before the police were called, and officers are particularly keen to speak to a group of men seen gathered around the woman before their arrival.

The suspected assault victim was taken to hospital and has since been discharged.

A police spokesman said: “The witness reported a number of men present with her, but these men had left by the time officers arrived shortly afterwards.”

The entrance of the library was sealed off until around 11am on Sunday, as police forensic officers scoured the scene for clues.

Officers are trying to piece together a timeline of events for the evening, and are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Farnham Library, in West Street, between 11.30pm on Saturday and 1am on Sunday, and may have seen one or more individuals near to the library.

They are also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard a distressed woman anywhere in Farnham within the same time period.

Finally, officers are looking to speak to the men that were with the woman outside the library, but left before officers arrived, as it will help them to understand how long the woman had been there.

Anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the area is asked to contact Surrey Police urgently on 101 or surrey.police.uk/ReportIt, quoting reference PR/45180130829.

Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.