A Blackley teenager has been dragged into bushes and raped as she was walking home in broad daylight near a wooded area said to be popular with local dog walkers.
The 19-year-old victim was approached by a man, dragged into bushes and attacked in a wooded area off Old Market Street – police received reports of the ‘horrific’ incident at 7:50am on Sunday August 9.
The woman had walked onto Warren Street opposite the Co-op on Old Market Street at around 7:30am as she walked home from a night out.
Detective Inspector Jim Faulkner said: “The victim is obviously distressed and we currently have specially trained officers helping her get through this horrific ordeal.
“Understandably, the local residents have been left concerned by what has happened but we have increased patrols in the area to offer reassurance.”
The offender is described as being mixed race/light skinned, early 30s, around 5ft 8in tall, quite slim around the waist but muscular around the shoulders and spoke in broken English.
DI Faulkner appealed to anyone who was in the area, which is popular with dog walkers, and who may have seen anything at all to come forward.
He said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in that area at that time to call our team of detectives investigating this as you may have seen something that may be relevant.
“The area is very popular with dog walkers and I would also ask them to get in touch if they believe they saw anything suspicious.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 1911 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.
You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.
St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault.
Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.
Image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks.
