Residents left ‘on edge’ after latest assault

Residents say they are worried about using a popular Carnoustie walking route after a woman was assaulted.

Police cordoned off part of Shanwell Road after the incident on Thursday evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Duncan from CID said the 48-year-old victim was approached by a man in his early 20s near the Shanwell Cemetery before the assault.

Many local residents confirmed there had been a visible police presence throughout yesterday.

The incident has left some in the town “feeling on edge” given that another female was assaulted in the Craigmill Den area on August 11.

Resident James Dunn decided to accompany his younger sister during her regular dog walk along Shanwell Road due to the attacks.

He said: “It is quite scary to the think both these incidents have come just weeks apart.

“I hadn’t seen the police or the cordon but others have told me there was a large police presence in and around the paths on Shanwell Road.

“Those trying to access roads near the cemetery were getting turned back by police on Friday morning.

“My sister was coming out to walk the dog in the afternoon and I decided to come with her. People are on edge given these incidents have come so close to one another.”

A pensioner who walks in the area, who did not want to be named, said: “Word had started to get around that a woman had been attacked near the cemetery.

“It has been the talk of the community and there is a feeling of unease about accessing these paths now.

“They are popular with dog walkers and I’ve been walking them myself for the last 15 years and we’ve never experienced anything like this before.

Susan Selvey lives near to where the assault happened. The 62-year-old said she was “surprised” to hear of the incident so close to her front door.

She said: “The first I became aware of it was when the police posted about it on social media.

“I was surprised when I read what has taken place. I have lived here for over 15 years and we’ve never had anything like this before.”

DCI Duncan said: “The woman was walking in Shanwell Road... when she was approached by a man and assaulted. She was understandably shocked by the incident but thankfully unhurt.

“The man has been described as being aged in his early 20s with a tanned complexion, of slim build, about 5ft 6in and was wearing a dark, thin top, dark joggers and dark trainers. He had something similar to a snood or bandana covering his mouth and had a hood up.

“Detectives will be in the area conducting door-todoor inquiries and reviewing CCTV.”

He said the police had so far found no link to the earlier assault.

PROBE: A woman was attacked while walking near Carnoustie’s Shanwell Cemetery.