Rapist-hunt police try to allay fears

Paul Jeeves

SENIOR police officers are liaising with York Council in an attempt to allay growing public fears over a knife-wielding rapist who carried out an early evening attack on a teenage woman.

The rape of the 18-year-old victim as she walked home on the outskirts of York has provoked widespread concern and North Yorkshire Police officers have warned women not to go out alone at night.

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York Council’s leader Andrew Waller said he was liaising closely with senior officers to obtain regular updates about the inquiry.

He also revealed that there could be a meeting to allay the concerns of residents in the Westfield ward, which he represents and is the area where the rape took place on Saturday.

Coun Waller said: “I have been talking regularly with the police to find out more information about the inquiry, and also to pass on a message of reassurance to the public.

“The prime concern at the moment is the investigation, and ensuring people come forward with information to catch the offender. But we may well look towards holding a public meeting in the coming weeks once more details have emerged.”

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The officer leading the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, considers the rape to be one of the worst offences he had dealt with in a career spanning 28 years.

Officers are investigating new leads after more than a dozen potential witnesses came forward.

The victim had finished work at a city centre cafe and caught a bus home before being attacked early on Saturday evening while walking across a field off Grange Lane in Acomb.

She suffered what police described as “serious injuries”.

Police are studying CCTV in the hope of tracing the offender.

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