Norwich Police "New Leads" On City Rape

28 October 2014, 15:24 | Updated: 28 October 2014, 15:28

Police in Norwich say they are now following up a number of new leads in the investigation ino the rape of a woman in the city centre.

It comes after officers carried out anniversary checks in the Riverside area of the city between 8pm and 10.30pm last night (Mon Oct 27th).
 
Appeal leaflets featuring a CCTV image of the suspect were handed out to passengers at the bus stop and taxi rank at the railway station. Detectives also spoke with about 35 members of the public.
 
The checks were carried out after a woman in her 40s was attacked on Monday 20 October; the victim was hit in the face suffering serious injuries before being raped in an alleyway near Rosary Road.
 
Detective Inspector Richard Ellis, who is overseeing the enquiry, said he was encouraged by the response and that detectives were following up new leads. "During the checks we spoke to a number of people in a bid to gather further information and to see if we could identify anyone who may have been in the area last Monday evening," said Det Insp Ellis. 
 
We will now look at the information given to see if this can progress our investigation, however in the meantime I would continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward."
 
Police have also released CCTV footage showing the suspect riding a mountain bike as he walked near to the Railway Station with the victim.
 
During the attack the man hit the victim in the face, knocking two of her teeth out and possibly fracturing her jaw. He then raped her before leaving the scene.
 
The suspect is described as white, aged in his late 20s, between 5ft 6 and 8inches tall, with short brown hair. He had olive coloured skin, was clean shaven and had an Eastern European accent. The man was carrying a rucksack and travelling on a light coloured mountain bike and wore causal clothing.
 
The victim, who has long dark hair and was wearing a black and white short dress, high heels and carrying a black handbag with studs, was seen to walk with her attacker prior to the incident in Lower Clarence Road, Thorpe Road and Riverside Road between 10.10pm and 10.30pm. 
   
Anyone with information should contact DS Martin James at Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.