Appeal After Attempted Rape in Oxford

22nd February 2012, 08:47

Police investigating an attempted rape in Oxford on Saturday say they're keen to trace two men who may have seen what happened.

Officers are walking around the Sandy Lane West and Littlemore areas this morning speaking to local residents after a sexual assault in the early evening on February 18.

A 17-year-old girl was walking along Sandy Lane West when she was grabbed by an unknown man as she passed Spring Lane and sexually assaulted before managing to get away.

The man is described as black, in his late twenties to early thirties, around 6ft, with a thin build, clean-shaven and spoke with a deep voice.

He was wearing a black and grey striped beanie-style woollen hat, a black shiny or silky, hip-length, padded jacket, dark blue or black wide-leg jeans with a distinctive white or light-coloured line pattern on the right bottom pocket and black trainers, possibly Nike Air-style with a hole in the heel and a florescent green band round back of heel.

The 17-year-old was wearing an olive-green thigh-length parka coat with the hood up which had a furry trim.

Detective Sergeant Ian Wood said they are appealing for witnesses to come forward;

"This is a very busy area, used by people cutting through to the Blackbird Leys estate from the ring road and people walking through to Littlemore and Cowley.

"I believe that someone out there would have seen this man and can provide us with important information that can help us trace and arrest him.

"The victim remembers seeing a white man standing on Sandy Lane West shortly before the incident happened, wearing an Oxford Utd tracksuit. Was this you? If it was we would be very keen to speak to you.

"She also remembers seeing a man wearing a Barbour jacket walk from Champion Way onto Sandy Lane West. This man was white and walked past the victim on Sandy Lane West. If this is you police would like to speak to you."