Trigger Warning: This post deals with issues of sexual assault and may be triggering for survivors of abuse.
Last year, on Friday August 14, a 24-year-old woman was walking in Leeds after a night out in the city. It was late, and she was trying to find a taxi to get her home.
At around 5am, she was approached by a man with a shaved head, wearing a long black coat and black pants. Police say he appears to be between 30 and 40 years old.
He walked beside her and spoke to her, before picking her up and moving her to the crime scene.
The 24-year-old was raped, and now, one year later, her attacker still has not been found.
Police have released CCTV footage of the moments preceding the attack in the hopes that the public will be able to help identify the man.
Head of Crime for Leeds District, Detective Pat Twiggs, says "The footage of the victim being carried off by this man clearly makes for disturbing viewing."
"We gave very careful consideration to releasing it and secured the consent of the victim who has been left understandably traumatised by what this man did to her.
"I think the CCTV gives a really stark illustration of the very serious nature of this offence and we hope it will focus the public’s minds on helping us to identify and trace the man responsible.
"The other footage we have released shows this man walking around Leeds city centre and we strongly believe he has been looking for someone to attack before he focuses on the victim.
"I’m asking people to think about what events there were on in the city that night that he could/ might have been attending dressed like this. He may have been staying at a hotel in the city centre and we would like to hear from anyone who has information about that.
"The images of this man are very distinctive and we would urge anyone who thinks they know who it is to contact us.
"We have recovered a DNA profile from the victim and so can easily eliminate anyone whose name is put forward.
"The circumstances of the offence and this man’s behaviour leading up to it are a serious cause for concern and we need to identify and arrest him at the earliest opportunity."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Rachel Gilsenan at Elland Road via 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
