Fresh Appeal In Southampton Rape Case

10 September 2013, 18:18

Detectives investigating the rape of a woman in Southampton are appealing directly to two men to come forward who helped the victim after her ordeal.

The 20-year-old was walking alone along West Quay Road, Southampton between 3am and 3.45am, August 31 when she met a group of about four men, near to Ikea, who spoke to her.
 
The woman then continued to walk along West Quay Road, near the De Vere Hotel, where she says she was grabbed by one of the men, who pulled her into a bush and raped her before leaving the scene.
 
The suspect is described as white, aged in his early 20s and about 5ft 5 inches tall. He was of muscular build with a trimmed, medium-brown beard. He had short hair at the sides and longer hair on top. At the time he was wearing dark-blue skinny jeans and a t-shirt.
 
Two men stopped after seeing the woman upset and assisted her. The woman’s boyfriend who picked her up from near the scene said the men told him they were walking past and saw her crying and wanted to make sure she was alright.
 
Detective Sergeant Andy Hedley said:

“We have already made an appeal for several potential witnesses to come forward but we really need to speak to the two men who kindly stopped and helped the woman near the De Vere hotel as they were the first to speak to her after the ordeal and may have vital information.
 
“We know both were white and aged in their early to mid-twenties and tall and slim. One had dark medium length hair and the other wore a short sleeved polo shirt with horizontal stripes across the body.
 
“I would ask both these men to get in contact with us as soon as possible as what they say could help this investigation significantly.”
 
The men or anyone who knows who they are or anyone else with information about the crime is asked to contact the Operation Wight team at Southampton central police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.