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'Catch silent rapist' begs student victim
Brian Lashley25/ 4/2006
A STUDENT who was dragged off the street and pinned down and raped by a powerfully built stranger has spoken of her horrific ordeal.
The terrified 17-year-old was afraid she would die as she was being attacked by the man, who did not utter a single word throughout the assault.
The girl, training to be a nursery nurse, has made a brave appeal for information as she fears the man could strike again.
She was aware of a man behind her as she walked along Northmoor Road, Longsight, one afternoon in February.
The attacker approached the teenager from the direction of Crowcroft Park. He grabbed her before dragging her into an alleyway, where he held her down and raped her. He ran off towards Bickerdike Court.
She said: "I crossed the road and saw him come nearer to me. He was walking like he was on drugs or something.
Grabbed
"He grabbed my arm and pushed me down the alleyway. He didn't say anything, he didn't speak at all.
"When he had gone I got up and just ran. I caught the bus home and I didn't say anything to anyone and got rid of the clothes I was wearing. I felt ashamed and dirty."
The girl only revealed details of her ordeal in March after reading in the M.E.N. about an attempted abduction in North Reddish in which she thought the description matched that of her attacker. Greater Manchester Police does not believe the incidents were linked.
She ran to her mother and tearfully revealed details of her ordeal.
She said: "I just kept reading it and reading it and I was in shock. It was relief to tell someone. After that I think I slept for the first time since it happened.
Threat
"If anyone knows who did this they should come forward. "We just need to get this person off the street. I think he could do this again."
Det Con Victoria Beardsley, of Longsight CID, said: "We would like to remind people, and especially women, to take sensible steps to protect their personal safety at all times."
The attacker is described as Asian, aged in his mid 30s, about 6ft tall, with short receding black hair and of a muscular build.
He had a big nose with a bump on the bridge and thick bushy eyebrows that met in the middle. He was wearing a thick gold coloured link chain around his neck and Nike TN trainers with white stripes.
* Anyone with information should contact CID on 0161 856 4269 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can contact St Mary's Sexual Assault Centre in confidence on 0161 276 6515.
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