Hornsea rape: 150 potential witnesses
Detectives investigating a Christmas Eve rape in Hornsea are speaking to 150 potential witnesses, the Mail can reveal.
A huge investigation was launched after a 20-year-old woman was attacked at a recreation ground off Westwood Avenue.
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Humberside Police are speaking to 150 potential witnesses to a rape in Hornsea
She had been out with friends on December 23, and was raped by a stranger as she walked home early on Christmas Eve morning.
Following successful appeals for revellers to come forward, the officer in charge of the investigation has praised the response.
Detective Chief Inspector John Harding, from the force's major incident team, said: "We have 150 people on a list who we have spoken to, or will be speaking to, in relation to the rape. That list is growing as well.
"There are more people who we want to speak to, and so the task is quite enormous."
The attack took place as the woman walked along Atwick Road, away from the town centre.
She told detectives she was grabbed from behind by a man as she attempted to walk past him.
A hood was pulled over her head and face and she was marched along Westwood Avenue.
Following the rape, her attacker then walked her back to Atwick Road, where he let her go before making off towards the town centre.
Det Chief Insp Harding said: "We have had an excellent response from the people of Hornsea following our appeals for information.
"It is becoming a very detailed, and painstaking, investigation, but we are determined to bring this man to justice.
"It is extremely rare for stranger rapes to happen anywhere, let alone Hornsea, which is usually a law-abiding town.
"The people we are speaking to were all out and about on the evening in the town centre.
"Again, anyone else who was out in Hornsea on that night would be helping the inquiry by contacting us."
The suspect is white, between 5ft 10in and 6ft and of broad build.
He had short dark hair and wore dark jeans, a dark top with a zip in the centre.
Anyone with information is urged to call Humberside Police on 0845 6060222, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
4 Comments
by Resident, Hornsea
Friday, January 15 2010, 8:45AM
“Sorry Charlie, I did say possibly this was the reason as it's not likely to happen that 150 people stood by and watched a girl be raped, as you so rightly pointed out.... It was just an opinion not a fact.”
by Charlie, Always within striking distance.
Thursday, January 14 2010, 6:21PM
“Surely the question is - If there are 150 potential witnesses, why didn't one of them do something? Pob, Bev
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commented on 14-Jan-2010 12:54
...........Are you serious? Do you REALLY think that 150 people stood by and watched as a young girl was raped?
And Resident.... what this means is that so far police reckon around 150 people, male and female, who were out and about on Christmas eve are POTENTIAL witnesses in that they may be able to add to the description of the attacker or to the circumstances leading up to the rape.”
by Resident, Hornsea
Thursday, January 14 2010, 1:18PM
“I think Pob, it possibly means that there are 150 men who have come forward that fit that description so they can be elliminated from enquiries. They were all possibly out on Christmas Eve and have come forward voluntarily. The description, however, is fitting of half the men in Hornsea.”
by Pob, Bev
Thursday, January 14 2010, 12:54PM
“Surely the question is - If there are 150 potential witnesses, why didn't one of them do something?”