Police given ‘names’ in hunt for Leeds city centre rapist who carried victim off

Police hunting a Leeds rapist say they have received a flood of calls – and a list of possible names – after releasing chilling footage of him carrying his victim.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Oct 2015, 15:01 BST
A still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attackA still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attack
A still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attack

Detectives are still trying to find the man who attacked the 24-year-old woman on Mark Lane in the city centre in the early hours of Friday, August 14.

In a renewed public appeal, last Friday they issued this disturbing CCTV footage showing him carrying her in his arms and other shots of him walking around the city centre.

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Detective Superintendent Pat Twiggs, head of crime for Leeds, said the public response had been “excellent”.

A still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attackA still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attack
A still image from the CCTV showing the rapist carrying his victim before the attack

He added: “As a result of that we received a large number of calls from members of the public, some of whom suggested names for the offender.

“Officers are now looking carefully at all the information we received and prioritising their enquiries to take the investigation forward.”

The victim had been walking to get a taxi home after a night out when she was approached by the man in Kirkgate.

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He spoke to her and walked next to her along Briggate before they reached Dortmund Square, where he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the scene of the attack a short distance away.

As part of the investigation, detectives have been trawling CCTV footage and have identified the suspect at various locations.

He is shown loitering in a car park at the back of the Malmaison hotel in Swinegate at around 4.40am before approaching a woman on Swinegate at 4.45am, and is seen walking along Briggate.

The man is described as black, aged 30 to 40, tall, with a shaved head.

He was wearing a long black overcoat and black trousers.

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Det Supt Twiggs added: “We are very grateful to everyone who has contacted us so far and we continue to urge members of the public to watch the video very closely and think about whether they recognise the man.

“We are still yet to trace the woman he was shown approaching on CCTV in Swingeate prior the attack and we would still like to hear from her.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Rachel Gilsenan at Elland Road via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.