Women warned not to walk alone after teen is raped (From Daily Echo)
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Women warned not to walk alone after teen is raped
12:09pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Crime
The crime scene near the Dorset Street underpass, Southampton
WOMEN were today being warned not walk home alone as police stepped up their hunt for a rapist who attacked a student in the city.
The 19-year-old victim was found distressed and lying on the ground in an underpass after the assault that happened as she walked home in the early hours of yesterday.
It’s believed the girl had earlier been with friends but was making her way home alone when the attack took place.
She was found in the cutthrough in Dorset Street, near The Avenue in Southampton, by a group of five people who were walking past and called police and paramedics to the scene at around 2am.
The crime scene was cordoned off with police tape all day yesterday as forensic inquiries got under way, as well as house-to-house calls.
Detectives leading the investigation, from Southampton’s area CID team, were also examining CCTV footage in the hope it might lead them to the man responsible.
Today they appealed for a potentially vital witness, a man who was seen with the woman but left when the emergency services arrived, to come forward.
He is described as white, around 24 years old and with short hair. He was wearing a checked jumper, dark jeans and a scarf.
Detective Inspector Fiona Bitters said: “This is a serious incident and we have a large number of officers carrying out enquiries in the city, and part of the underpass is closed while we gather all available evidence.
“We believe the man who was found with the woman could have important information about what happened, and we are very keen to identify him as soon as possible.”
A police spokesman added: “We would urge people to take sensible precautions and avoid walking home alone at night. If you are out with friends, stay together and always choose a well-lit route and be aware of your surroundings.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact CID at Southampton on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
