Police Appeal For Help In Rape Case
20 October 2012, 10:52 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Police investigating an allegation of rape in Sunderland are appealing for a man who spoke to the victim to come forward
Detectives are carrying out enquiries into the incident, which is reported to have happened between 2.30am and 3.15am on Saturday, October 6th.
The 25-year-old woman had been out socialising for the evening with friends in Sunderland city centre and left the Ling Sun Chinese takeaway on Vine Place around 2.30am.
She subsequently found herself in Prospect Row in Hendon at 3.15am on Saturday morning near the Old Welcome Tavern and knocked on a local resident's door in a distressed state.
The police were then called.
Police are trying to establish exactly what happened to the woman between the hours of 2.30am and 3.15am.
The man police need to speak to is known to have spoken to the woman in the takeaway.
He is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, of medium build and with short brown hair. He was clean shaven and was wearing a blue long sleeved top and dark trousers. Police have CCTV of the man which they will consider for release if they don't trace him.
Northumbria Police Detective Inspector Denise Clark said:
"We know this man spoke to the woman in the takeaway and it's possible he has important information which will help us in our enquiries.
We have CCTV of him which we will release in an effort to trace him so I'd urge him to come forward as soon as possible.
We need to find out where this woman went to after she left the Chinese takeaway and establish what exactly has happened.
If anyone was in the area and thinks they may have seen anything then I'd ask them to contact us straight away."
The victim's shoes, which were originally missing, have been found in the Hendon area.
The victim is around 5ft 6ins tall and has long dark hair. She was wearing a black lace dress with three quarter length sleeves, black leggings and black size 8 ankle boots.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 or to ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
