A WOMAN was raped by a stranger who offered to walk her home after approaching her near a McDonald’s, police said today.
Detectives launched an appeal after the woman was sexually assaulted on a school field by a man who had offered to walk her home in West Denton, Newcastle.
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The horrific attack happened in the Linhope Road area of West Denton on Sunday, October 10.
The victim was approached by a man she did not know in the underpass of the A1 near McDonald’s on Stamfordham Road, offering to walk her home.
After walking together for a short time, they made their way through the car park of McDonald’s, over a footbridge, and into a rear lane at about 12.30am.
At this point, it is reported the man went on to carry out the attack in a field behind the school, off Linhope Road.
The victim and her family are being offered support by specialist officers at this time.
Officers have been carrying out various lines of enquiry since the incident in a bid to identify the person responsible.
The victim has described her attacker as a white man, 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build with a shaved head and a local accent.
Today, detectives have released CCTV images showing a man walking in that area at the time of the incident.
They are asking that he, anyone who thinks they may know him, or any other witnesses in the area at the time, to come forward.
Detective Sergeant William Kemp, of Northumbria Police, said: “We are continuing to offer the victim any support she needs and are committed to ensuring the person responsible for this offence is brought to justice – and we are today asking for your help.
“Incidents of this nature are rare in this area, but when they do occur, as a Force we will use every tactic at our disposal in order to ensure perpetrators are identified and dealt with robustly.
“I am asking the public to cast their mind back to the early hours of October 10. Did you see a male and female walking together at the time and in the area described?
“Do you think you might know who this man pictured is? If so, please let us know as we would like to speak to him – he could have crucial information that can assist our ongoing enquiries.”
