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Woman tells of Tobin sex attack 'Huge' response to Tobin appeal
(about 11 hours later)
A woman who could be one of the earliest sex attack victims of serial killer Peter Tobin has spoken out for the first time on the BBC's Crimewatch. A BBC Crimewatch appeal involving a woman who could be one of serial killer Peter Tobin's earliest sex attack victims has sparked a "massive" response, according to police.
The woman, now aged 57, said she was sexually assaulted by Tobin in 1968. The woman spoke about the 1968 attack for the first time on the programme, which urged viewers to come forward with information about Tobin's past.
Tobin, 63, is serving three life sentences for the murders of 15-year-old Vicky Hamilton, 18-year-old Dinah McNicol and 23-year-old Angelika Kluk. He was jailed for murdering Angelika Kluk, Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol.
Police are examining Tobin's past to determine whether he is responsible for any other unsolved crimes. Det Supt David Swindle said people gave details of other potential victims.
He is the officer leading Operation Anagram, an attempt to trace Tobin's past movements and examine whether he is responsible for any other crimes.
In the Crimewatch programme, the woman, who cannot be named, described how she met Tobin in Glasgow when he was 21 and going under the name Jim McLaughlin.In the Crimewatch programme, the woman, who cannot be named, described how she met Tobin in Glasgow when he was 21 and going under the name Jim McLaughlin.
She said: "He was very polite to me - nice, laughing and joking - just an everyday guy."She said: "He was very polite to me - nice, laughing and joking - just an everyday guy."
More than 40 years later she recognised a magazine picture of a young Tobin and came forward after a Crimewatch appeal last December. She said the pair had gone on a date to a pub after meeting at the city's Barrowland Ballroom.
"I don't remember leaving that pub - I'm sure he put something in my drink," she said.
"The next thing I remember is waking up in this tenement stair landing and I was fighting for my life.
"He was lying on top of me, pulling at my clothes, punching my face, pulling my hair out in chunks."
The woman said she recognised Tobin more than 40 years later
"I was screaming for my life and it must have been heard because a couple came out and he ran away. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be sitting here."
More than 40 years later the woman - now aged 57 - said her "legs gave way" when she recognised a magazine picture of a young Tobin and came forward after a Crimewatch appeal last December.
She said: "It has been a long time but I have never forgotten that encounter.She said: "It has been a long time but I have never forgotten that encounter.
"I don't know how many times I went to phone the police. I wouldn't know what to say, are they going to believe me?""I don't know how many times I went to phone the police. I wouldn't know what to say, are they going to believe me?"
The woman said she hoped her story would encourage other victims to come forward. She said she hoped her story would encourage other victims to come forward.
Across the UK, police forces have been taking part in Operation Anagram in an attempt to trace Tobin's past movements and examine whether he is responsible for any other crimes. 'Missing people'
'Important information' Within one hour of her telling her story, the programme had received more than 50 calls about Tobin.
Det Sup David Swindle, from Strathclyde Police, said the operation was continuing to progress "with an excellent public response". On a later Crimewatch update, Det Sup Swindle, from Strathclyde Police, said: "We've had a massive, unbelieveable response.
He said: "The information relating to what may have been Tobin's first serious sexual assault victim in 1968 is very important to allow us to piece together the earlier years of Tobin's criminal life when he was a young man, and hopefully this will jog other people's minds because without doubt there are people out there who knew him and have not come forward. "We've had information about Peter Tobin, what he may have done, information about potential victims, about missing people and all sorts of things that'll help us find out the truth about what Tobin has done."
"In recent weeks people have provided important information about Tobin relating to 2005 and 2006 prior to the murder of Angelika Kluk and for whatever reason despite the massive media publicity these people have not come forward. He said other people who may have been attacked by Tobin in the 1960s had come forward, but appealed for more information about the serial killer's movements in 1978.
"It is only as a result of our Anagram inquiries that we traced these persons. I must stress if you have information about Tobin it may be that vital piece of information which can bring closure to families whose loved ones have fallen victim to the serial killer."