Newcastle City Police commander Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey has appealed for help from the public after the terrifying ordeal on Thursday afternoon, which left the young woman "heavily traumatised" and injured.

The stranger entered the woman's Turana Parade bedroom with a knife about 3.20pm and threatened her.

She tried to alert neighbours but the offender then grabbed and sexually assaulted her.

"As you can imagine to be confronted in your home by a complete stranger armed with a knife who then sexually assaults you is nothing but the act of a disgraceful predator," Detective Superintendent Humphrey said.

"The acts that he undertook when he did find that lone female, that victim, was not opportunistic. That was aggravated and predatory."

The man then ran off. The woman sought help from nearby residents, who contacted police.

The State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad has been called in and has joined Newcastle detectives in forming Strike Force Oorin in an effort to catch the offender.

"This was a predatory act," Detective Superintendent Humphrey said. "This is very unusual and we are taking it extremely seriously.

"We will leave no stone unturned to locate this person and bring them before the courts."

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early to mid-20s, of a solid and athletic build, with a broad nose, short black hair and unshaven.

Detective Superintendent Humphrey said police were appealing for dashcam or CCTV footage and to anyone who may have seen a person matching the description in Turana Parade, Lester Parade, Faulkner Crescent, Sunset Boulevard or University Drive between 1pm and 5pm.

He said there was reason to believe the man was in the area for some time.

"There is some suggestion that the person we're looking for was moving between certain locations," Detective Superintendent Humphrey said.

"This is a significantly predatorial offence and we need to get him as soon as we can.

"We've got a lot of strong lines of inquiry, we've got a lot of police on the ground, we've got a joint strike force with State Crime.

"We're doing everything we can to keep everyone safe."

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

"We need the public to step forward," Detective Superintendent Humphrey said.

"Tell us what you saw, that might be that little link that can help us find this man."

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