Source: Smooth Radio
CCTV images have been released of a car detectives investigating a rape in Newcastle want to trace.
The attack happened in the early hours of December 5th in Walker. A 19 year old girl who was on a night out in Newcastle became separated from her friends and ended up at a take-away at St Mary’s Place in the city centre.
At around 4am she left the take-away and got into a dark coloured car which she thought was a taxi, but police believe may not have been. She asked to be taken home to an
address nearby, but was driven to the Hawick Crescent Industrial Estate
off St Lawrence Road, Walker, where she was raped inside the car. The car
drove off, leaving the girl at the scene.
CCTV footage of the area shows a dark car with its lights off pulling out
of the estate at around 4.40am. It headed towards St Peter’s Basin where
it drove past a white taxi which was driving out of St Peter’s Basin. The
dark car then turned round in St Peter’s Basin and drove onto Glass House
Street, heading towards Walker Road.
Detective Inspector Tim Miley of Northumbria Police’s specialist Rape
Investigation Team, said: “We are carrying out a full investigation into
this very serious assault on a young woman. Extensive enquiries are
underway to find the person responsible.
“The victim was obviously left very distressed and is being given a range
of support by specially trained officers.
“I would like to hear from anyone who may have seen this girl get into a
car, there were a number of taxis in the area and the drivers may have
witnessed something.”
Although police still have to establish the exact circumstances of what
took place, they do not believe that this offence is connected to the rape
of a teenager in her home in the early hours of Monday morning.
As the festive season gets into full swing, police are repeating their
advice to revellers to take reasonable steps to stay safe during evenings
out.
DI Miley added: “It’s good advice to pre-book their taxi home if possible
and not to get into a car without checking that it is a genuine cab. We’d
also remind people to be aware of how much they are drinking and the
effect it can have on their judgement.”
Anyone with information about this attack is asked to contact Northumbria
Police’s on 03456 043 043 and ask for the Rape Investigation Team or ring
the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
