Police release images of rape suspects

Police investigating a series of rapes in Northampton have released artists’ impressions of five men that they wish to talk in connection with the attacks.

The men are believed to be responsible for a number of attacks on women in the Northampton are between August 1 and 8. Police believe that, although there may be less or more offenders involved, at least two of the men were thought to have been working together during at least two of the incidents.

Police also believe that a number of the men may have had access to a dark-coloured BMW 7-series car and/or a light coloured four-door Fiat Punto, which have been mentioned in connection with several of the attacks.

On August 1, two black men dragged a 15-year-old girl into a light coloured Fiat Punto, although she managed to escape uninjured a few minutes later.

Shortly afterwards, an 18-year-old woman was walking in Horsemarket, when a man in a blue BMW 7-series began talking to her. A Fiat Punto, with two black men in it, was parked beside the car and a man got out and pushed the woman into the car. He later got off the car and the woman was taken to a remote area, believed to be the Nobottle Road in Duston, where she was raped.

On August 3, a 25-year-old woman was walking across Cheyne Walk, when a BMW car stopped near her. A man got out of the car and ran towards the woman who ran into Northampton General Hospital for safety.

The last incident occurred on August 8. A 30-year-old woman was found in the Exeter Place area of Northampton, suffering from head injuries. It appeared that she had been hit over the head before being raped. Police said it was unclear whether or not the attack took place in the area or somewhere else, or whether the attack was linked to the others.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 01604 700700 or Crimestoppers on: 0800 555111.

The artists’ impressions are available at www.northants.police.co.uk

(KMcA/SP)