No 'Serial Rapist' At Large

Following news of the fourth rape in the Queen's University area (pictured) in two weeks, the PSNI has moved to quell fears that one individual could be responsible.

Superintendent Chris Noble confirmed there had been 18 rapes or attempted rapes in the area since April and that the latest attack had seen a 20-year-old woman assaulted in the Holyland area on Tuesday morning.

However, the senior officer insisted: "I've no information at this stage to suggest any of these crimes are linked."

The 20-year-old student victim was set upon as she walked along the lower part of Agincourt Avenue, close to the junction with the Ormeau Road at around 1.30am yesterday.

Police are seeking a man described as being about 20 to 25 years old, 6ft tall with blonde hair and wearing blue jeans and a blue T-shirt.

The incident comes under a week after a 22-year-old woman was raped when she was attacked in University Street at around 3am, on Wednesday last.

Commenting, the Director of the Rape Crisis Centre Eileen Calder said that while most rapes are carried out by someone the victim knows, she believes that south Belfast has become a hotspot for 'stranger rape'.

"In the 20 years I have worked in the Rape Crisis Centre, I have dealt with many, many student rapes. I think it is time the vulnerability of students in the area was dealt with," she commented.

However, Ms Calder remains clear on the issue of the same person being responsible for several attacks and said told the Belfast News Letter that if the PSNI "knew they were dealing with a serial rapist, she believed they would publicise the information".

"I just would ask for students living in south Belfast to be particularly careful. I would also call on the PSNI to maintain a visible presence in the area."

South Belfast DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt said this latest rape will deepen fear and insecurity within the community.

"It would seem that the recent attacks have been in and around the wider university area - and Dublin Road and therefore the PSNI must seek to be visible in these areas.

"I again call on the PSNI to dedicate greater resources to these areas.

"In my view, and in the view of the general public, the police are not out on our streets enough deterring crime. More must be done to ensure there are fewer victims."

In response, Superintendent Noble defended the police performance in the area: "We've put significant commitment into our neighbourhood policing teams in the university area," he said.

"We're patrolling with community safety wardens, we work very closely with the Community Safety Partnership and the District Policing Partnership."

He also said the officers of the rape crime unit were "committed to catching offenders and caring for victims and they've been working around the clock".

(BMcC)