Police appeal after two Exeter sex attacks
DETECTIVES have launched a major investigation into two serious sexual assaults in as many days on women in the city.
A manhunt for the attackers is now under way and police are appealing for any information about the incidents.
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The Millennium Bridge, where one woman was subjected to an assault
Police, who released the information yesterday, are currently treating the attacks, which both happened in the early hours of the morning, as unrelated.
The first attack happened in Gladstone Road, Exeter.
The victim was walking along Heavitree Road where she was approached by a man. He walked with her to Gladstone Road, where he assaulted her.
The incident happened on Saturday, June 27, at around 2.30am.
Her attacker is described as short with cropped dark hair and a shiny earring in his left ear.
Police say it is not known which route he took as he left the scene.
The second incident happened at around 3.30am on Sunday, June 28, in Flowerpot Fields, Exeter.
Police say the victim became aware of a man walking behind her as she walked down the steps at the catacombs, from the city centre.
The man tried to engage her in conversation and walked beside her down the steps and over the Millennium Bridge, where he subjected her to an assault.
He continued across the fields in the direction of Exwick.
The man in the second incident is described as white, in his early 20s, and slim.
He spoke with a local accent and was wearing a light-coloured shirt, or T-shirt, and jeans.
Police have issued a warning to women not to walk alone at night.
Detective Inspector Steve Parker, of Devon and Cornwall police, said: “It is unusual to have two such serious incidents within the space of one weekend.
“At this stage there appears to be no link between the two incidents.
“Both victims were left traumatised by the events and are receiving support from specially trained police officers. Although I cannot reveal the nature of the attack at this time, for operational reasons, it is fair to say that they were of a serious nature and both victims were left upset and extremely traumatised.”
He added: “While such events are rare, members of the public can take steps to protect themselves from such attacks, such as walking with a friend or taking a taxi home.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information regarding these offences to contact the incident room and quote the log numbers provided — DE/09/7180 and DE/08/7234 respectively — so we can progress the enquiry quickly.”
3 Comments
by Tamara Silver, Exeter
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 7:11PM
“I am relieved that Michelle Richards's response so fully covers exactly how I feel about what Sarah Johns wrote. Implying that these women are somehow to blame for the horrific attacks inflicted upon them because they were walking alone late at night. This report was an appeal for help in finding the attackers, not an oppurtunity to publicly congratulate yourself on never walking alone at night. When the report doesn't even mention how the women came to be in these situations, such an attitude is unwelcome and small minded.”
by Michelle Richards, Exeter
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:34PM
“Women should be free to walk the streets at whatever time of the day suits them. I agree it is dangerous to walk the streets in the early hours but it is not a crime. When a woman is raped at such a hour many people ask what was she doing out at this time? It is however not her who is in the wrong. All blame should be aimed at the rapist not at the victim. No one asks why are these men prawling the streets in the early hours looking for women to rape. Since when as there been a curfew that women should obide by so they do not get raped. A woman should not have to plan her day around limiting her risk of being sexually assaulted. When do you draw the line? Should women have to stay in as soon as it becomes dark? Would people ask the same questions if she was raped at 6pm on a winters evening. Nobody should be asking the question what was she doing out at such a hour as this brings the blame onto the victim not the rapist. There is no law saying when women should be home locked up so they are safe from rapists. They would then break into their homes I guess. There is a law however meaning it is against the law to follow a woman knowing that you are gonna rape her, to fill her with fear just because she knows she is being followed, to grab her and scare the life out of her while she does not know if she is gonna live or die, to drag her into a deserted area and rape her, leaving her traumatised for many years to come. Now what part of that is the fault of the woman. There needs to be tougher sentences for men who rape, a real deterent to stop others in their tracts. It is so sad to hear a woman saying why do these women walk home alone at these stupid times. It seems like we have accepted that we live in a society where violence against women is accepted and justified if certain criterias are met -like being out alone at a certain time. This should not be the case at all. All we are doing is making excuses for these weak pathetic creatures that call themself men but in reality are the scum of the earth..”
by Sarah Johns, Exeter
Friday, July 03 2009, 4:16PM
“I dont for one second think what happened here is right but why do these women walk home on there own at these stupid times. 2.30am and 3.30am you hear about these things happening all the time. I know you should be able to walk around without being attacked but I would never do it. Come on women be more careful and think about your safety”