Swindon: Serious Sexual Assault

12 January 2015, 14:21 | Updated: 12 January 2015, 14:23

Wiltshire Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses after a young woman was the victim of a serious sexual assault in Swindon.

Police were contacted at approximately midnight on Saturday 11 January to reports of the rape of an 18 year old woman in the underpass between Station Road and the Oasis leisure centre. 

The victim had approached door staff at a local nightclub who called the police on her behalf. 

An investigation into the incident was launched and officers are in the process of assessing the forensics and trawling though CCTV from the underpass. 

The woman, who is local to Swindon, is receiving the relevant support during the investigation process. 

Detective Inspector Ron Peach, who is leading the investigation, said: “We would like to hear from any of the public who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area between 10pm and midnight on Saturday night. Did you see a woman in distress or perhaps a man acting suspiciously near to the underpass - Any information would be useful as we try to piece together what may have happened. 

''Equally, as we go through the CCTV we would like to hear from people who walked through the underpass between 10 and midnight so that we can eliminate them from our enquiries." 

Inspector Paul Saunders from the Town Centre Team said: "There have been lots of changes recently to make this underpass a safer place to be, including the installation of CCTV cameras at each entrance. We will be putting in extra patrols in the local area and we would encourage people to be vigilant in the area and report anything suspicious to police. 

''We continue to work hard to make Swindon a safe place for the public and we need their continued support. I work closely with Swindon Borough Council and this continues to be a positive relationship where we work together to overcome these challenges and threats to the safety of our town centre." 

Anyone with information is asked to call Wiltshire Police on 101 and ask to speak to CID or alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.