'Don't go out alone' warning as savage knife rapist hunted

A manhunt is under way after the teenage victim was dragged to the ground and assaulted as she walked home across parkland on the outskirts of York.

The 18-year-old woman had finished work at a city centre cafe and caught a bus home before she was attacked early on Saturday evening while walking across the field in the suburb of Acomb.

She suffered what detectives described as "serious injuries", including scratches, bruises and cuts to her face and body, and was taken to York Hospital for treatment.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police are now studying closed circuit TV in the hope of tracing the offender and have warned residents during house-to-house inquiries not to go out alone after dark.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, who is leading the investigation, admitted yesterday that the rape was one of the worst offences he had dealt with in a policing career spanning 28 years.

He said: "It is vitally important that we catch the person responsible, and I want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to bring the offender to justice.

"York is a safe place to live and a sex attack such as this is extremely unusual. However, we are warning people not to go out alone after dark, especially in isolated areas.

"It was a very traumatic incident, and the victim is coping extremely well. The injuries she received are very serious, especially given the nature of the attack.

"It is one of the most serious offences of its kind that I have seen."

Up to 30 officers have been involved in the inquiry, with a dedicated team of 10 detectives working on the case.

They are attempting to establish if the rapist was on the same Number One First bus service as the victim which left the city centre at 6.45pm on Saturday.

CCTV footage from the bus is being studied, as are surveillance systems from pubs and off licences in the area after the victim told officers that her assailant's breath smelt of alcohol.

The teenager got off the bus at about 7pm at the junction of Askham Lane and Ridgeway before walking down Grange Lane and turning left, entering the field and heading along a path by the side of Westfield School.

When she reached a mound in the field towards Westfield Place, she was approached from behind by the rapist who pulled her to nearby bushes where he carried out the sex attack.

The rapist was armed with a knife and what detectives believe was another sharp implement.

York Council leader Andrew Waller, who represents the Westfield ward where the attack happened, has spoken to concerned residents and also had messages via the Facebook social networking site. Coun Waller said: "The fact that York and North Yorkshire are safe places to live has had such an impact on the local community.

"People are obviously concerned about what has happened, and everybody's thoughts are with the woman who has been affected."

Police forensic teams continued to scour the grassland for evidence, but their efforts were hampered by heavy snowfall early on Sunday, only hours after the rape took place.

Detectives were alerted at about 8pm on Saturday after the victim's boyfriend contacted police. She is being cared for by her relatives and a police family liaison officer.

An E-fit image of the offender was released yesterday and police have already spoken to one potential witness who told them that he had seen a man fitting the description of the rapist in the area on Saturday evening.

The rapist was white, in his late 20s, 5ft 5in to 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, with dark cropped hair, thin lips and a rounded chin with stubble.

He has a deep voice and a local accent. He was wearing a dark-coloured Puffa-style jacket and light-coloured trousers.

Anyone with information about the attack can contact York CID on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.