Appeal Over Phone Box Rape

Police in Greater Manchester have appealed for information after a 23-year-old woman was raped in a phone box in Urmston.

The attack happened in the early hours of August 19. The victim was walking along Crofts Bank Road around 2am when she met a man who appeared to be lost. They both walked towards Nags Head Circle and when they got to the roundabout, at the junction of Crofts Bank Road and Lostock Road, the woman went into a phone box to make a call. The man then raped her.

The attacker is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build and aged in his early twenties. He had short brown hair and a cleft lip and was wearing a short-sleeved grey shirt with a white emblem and dark trousers.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, but they particularly want to speak to a taxi driver and his passenger who may have seen the victim and her attacker earlier that night.

It is understood that shortly after the woman first met her attacker in Urmston town centre, another man appeared on foot and asked the offender if he wanted a lift in a taxi. It is believed that this man may have known the identity of the attacker. The offender decline the offer and the other man got into the taxi and it drove off.

Detective Constable Amanda Tootill, from Trafford Public Protection Unit, said: "This was a truly horrendous attack on a defenceless woman walking home at night.

"He attacked her in the confined space of a telephone kiosk, knowing full well she would have nowhere to run.

"We need anyone who may have seen this man acting suspiciously to call us. We are particularly keen to speak to the taxi driver and his passenger who appear to have spoken to the attacker."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 0161 856 7577 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA/SP)