CCTV Of Suspect In Beeston Rape & Attempted Murder

19 March 2015, 11:32 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Detectives investigating the attempted murder and serious sexual assault of a woman in Leeds have today released the most detailed CCTV images yet of the man involved.

The victim, an 18-year-old woman, was attacked by the man as she waited at a bus stop in Beeston Road, near to the junction with Tempest Road, at about 10.50pm on Friday, March 6.

She was dragged from the bus stop into a nearby garden and struck over the head numerous times with a large stone before being seriously sexually assaulted. She received serious head injuries and a fractured hip.

These latest images show the suspect walking past the Tesco Express store in Burley Road at the junction of Westfield Terrace at about 9.45pm on the night of the attack.

The footage was discovered after two woman came forward separately to report being followed by the man.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “These are the most detailed images yet of the man involved in this terrible crime and they paint a very clear picture of him. We are urgently appealing for anyone who thinks they know who he is to contact us immediately.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is that we trace and arrest this man at the very earliest opportunity.

“These latest images show in detail the clothing he is wearing, consisting of a green Puma hooded top with a large logo on the front, dark coloured jeans with faded areas on the thighs, white trainers and a dark coloured bomber jacket with a hood.

“The description remains of him being of Pakistani or Middle Eastern origin, aged in his early twenties, slim, with receding black hair.

“We are asking people to think very carefully about all these elements and put them together with the e-fit image we have released and the other CCTV footage showing his size, build and movements, particularly his distinctive walk that shows he possibly has a limp.

“I want people to think about whether these various elements match anyone they may have seen in the area or if they have any suspicions about someone they know.”

Investigators have also released an image of the large stone that he used in the attack in an effort to identify where it came from.

Det Supt Wallen added: “We have also released an image of the fist-sized stone that he used to repeatedly strike the victim over the head during the attack. It was recovered from the scene and we believe the offender brought it with him to use as a weapon.

“It is quite distinctive as an object and we would ask people to let us know if they recognise it as something that has come from their garden or elsewhere, particularly if they live somewhere on his route towards the crime scene along Cemetery Road from the direction of Holbeck.

“The stone has been subject to extensive forensic examination and we are working with a specialist geologist to establish where it may have come from.

“We are continuing to receive an excellent response from the public following our previous appeals for information and we continue to urge anyone who has any information that could assist the investigation to get in touch immediately.

“Officers from the local neighbourhood policing are maintaining increased patrols in the area to provide visible reassurance to the community and are working closely with key contacts in the community to keep people informed as the investigation progresses.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 01924 334710 or via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.