Police plea after rape ordeal

May 24 2007 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

POLICE today urged women to be vigilant because they fear a rapist who subjected a Midland woman to a terrifying ordeal could strike again.

The woman was walking to work in an alleyway between Aconbury Close and Leopard Rise in Ronkswood, Worcester, when she was attacked.

Det Insp Graham Smith, of West Mercia Police, today warned women not to walk in isolated areas alone.

"We believe that this was a 'stranger rape'," he said. "On that basis, there is a possibility that the man could attempt to offend again.

"Our advice to all women in Ronkswood is to walk with someone else or find a different route if their normal one takes them into relatively remote secluded areas.

"While rapes in Worcester are extremely rare, this was particularly unusual in that it took place in the morning when there is a strong likelihood that there would have been a number of people making their way to work."

The rapist is described as white, in his early 20s, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins, with thin shoulder-length, greasy brown hair.

He was wearing blue jeans and a grey T-shirt.

DI Smith urged anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened at around 9.15am last Friday but was not reported to officers until Monday, to call police on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.