THE BODY of a man linked to an assault and attempted theft on Portland has been identified.

A woman was assaulted by a masked attacker while she sat in a parked car outside the Co-op store in Easton Square, Portland on July 19.

The man then fled into the sea at Church Ope Cove, sparking a widespread search. A body was found 12 days later in the water off Portland, which police said was believed to be linked to the previous incident.

The coroner's office has now confirmed that the body found is that of 28-year-old Ivan Rumenov Ignatov.

A spokeswoman from the coroner's office said: "The deceased was located in the water at Church Ope Cove, Portland having washed up on some rocks. The body was seen by a member of the public who was fishing with his son, who called police. Coastguard arrived and after some time the body was retrieved. Ambulance attended and confirmed death. Police attended the scene."

Dorset Police has revealed that the attacker had been released from custody just hours before the incident outside the Co-op 'on suspicion of a previous unrelated assault' but was released on conditional bail. The previous alleged assault was reported to police on the morning of Saturday, July 18. It happened in Sturminster Newton and involved another man.

Because he had been released from police custody on the day he was last seen, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified.

A Dorset Police spokeswoman said: “Although no specific concerns have been identified, due to the fact there had been prior police contact with the man on the day he was last seen, this matter has now been referred to the IOPC in accordance with the statutory guidance.”