Woman raped on way home

Victim was grabbed before sexual assault

Police are reassuring Peterborough residents after a woman was raped as she walked home. Thevictimwasreturningfrom a night out in the city centre on Saturday, July 23, between 3.15am and 4.30am when she was approached by a man she did not know in the Oundle Road area.

Themanspoketoherbriefly before grabbing her by the hair and dragging her to a moresecludedlocationwhere she was sexually assaulted. Following the assault the victim who is in her 40s was able to make it to a place of safety where she raised the alarm.

Officers have still not revealed where on Oundle Road the attack took place.

Now pol i c e havesaidtheyare following up on a number of leads - and said similar incidents are very rare.

Detective Inspector Leigh Allmansaid: “Incidents of this nature are rare and I would like to reassure thepublic that wearetreating this matterseriously. We have a number of leads which we are following up but I would urge anybody with any information – no matter how insignificant it may appear – to come forward.” Police are keen to speak to a man described as black, around 5’8” of medium build and aged in his 30s, who spoke with a foreign accent. On the night of the incident the manwasdescribedaswearing blacktrousersandablacktop.

Anyone with information should call the police on101or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A car fire is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life.

A car outside a property in Atkinson Street, Fengate, was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday morning and the fire causeddamagetothenearby building.

Scenesofcrimeofficers attended the incident and a police spokesman said it is being thoroughly investigated.

Police were called by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service at 4am to a suspected arson attack.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.