Police hunt after sexual assault ordeal
Locals race to the aid of young woman after hearing her screams in alleyway
SCREAMS of a desperate young woman allegedly being raped in an alleyway were heard on Saturay night before nearby locals raced to the scene to help.
The ‘horrendous’ incident left the lone female exposed from the waist down and with one shoe missing while crumpled on the ground in an alleyway between The Fisherman’s Kitchen and Riva 6 Beauty on Clarendon Road, Southsea, at around 10pm.
The assailant had fled by the time shocked helpers found the woman who was in a ‘right state’ after the ordeal.
A passing police van was flagged down before officers combed the area for clues and put a crime scene up.
The victim was helped to her feet before being given a blanket as she was attended to by a female officer.
The cordon was still in place yesterday as several officers – including forensic specialists – continued the hunt to catch the predator.
Nearby resident Lewis
Bishop, who was one of the first on scene following the incident, said: ‘I heard sobbing which I thought was just from a child at first. But then I heard screaming and realised it was much more serious.
‘I raced down there where a chef from a nearby restaurant had gone to help her. I didn’t know what had gone on at first.
‘She was on the ground minus a shoe with her lower half exposed so we got a blanket to cover her up. People were rallying round to help her but she was in a right state crying.
‘Nothing had been taken from her and she had no injuries from what I could see.
‘There are usually a lot of people in the area until 1am so hopefully someone saw something. It must have been horrendous for the girl.’
Lewis said the alleyway is ‘notorious for people taking drugs’ and is partly lit up by nearby street lamps.
The 40-year-old discovered CCTV overlooking the alleyway belonging to a business which he believes would have captured the attack.
‘I didn’t realise there was a camera but then looked up and saw one – it would have caught the whole thing if it was working,’ Lewis said.
‘There is also a camera by my back door which may have seen something so hopefully police are looking into these.
‘Hopefully they can catch the person responsible.’
A police spokeswoman said: ‘We were called at 10.11pm on Saturday to a report of a rape of a 19-year-old woman.
‘We are in the area carrying out enquiries at the scene. Circumstances into exactly what happened are ongoing.
‘The woman is being supported by specialist officers. No one has been arrested at this time.’
Anyone with information should call 101 and quote 44200333243.