OFFICERS from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team appeared on BBC1 show Crimewatch yesterday evening (Wednesday September 8) to re-appeal for information about a rape which occurred in Stevenage in March.
During the programme, a reconstruction of the incident was shown and it is hoped new witnesses will come forward.
The incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday March 24, when the victim, who is a nurse and aged in her early 30s, was walking to work. She was walking along the path which runs along Chequers Bridge Road towards Fairview Road at approximately 6.30am.
It is believed a man approached her from behind and raped her, before running from the scene. It is thought he may have been disturbed by a passer-by or a car starting.
The woman ran out of Watson Road, along Fairview Road towards the Leisure Park and came to a stop in an underpass where she called for help. It is believed a number of people, possibly commuters walking towards the train station, passed the victim whilst she was sat in distress in the underpass.
Officers have only a brief description of the offender, however they have established that he was wearing distinctive leather ‘driving style’ gloves. He was also said to have smelt of tobacco and may have been running, as he was out of breath.
A witness reported seeing a man acting suspiciously in the two days prior to the incident, at the same time in the morning. He has not been seen there since. The man is described as a black man with light-coloured skin, aged between 18 and 30, and of slim build. He was said to be clean-shaven and wearing a light blue, long-sleeved sweatshirt with dark cotton bottoms. He had running trainers, which were said to be dirty.
DC Kelly Adams from the specialist Sexual Offences Investigation Team is just one of the officers working on the case. She said: “We have carried out extensive enquiries and issued various media appeals to identify who is responsible for this terrifying incident – one which is highly uncommon in this county.
“We continue to provide support to the victim, who is still deeply traumatised and are determined to trace the offender so that she can have some closure.
“We thank Crimewatch for assisting us with the investigation and we hope that people will watch and call us if they have any information, even if they think it may be trivial. Your call could prove vital to our investigation.”
If you believe you may have seen the incident occur, the woman or offender running from the scene, or a man acting suspiciously in the area previously you are urged to call the investigating team via the non emergency number on 0845 33 00 222 as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
