Rapist in Leeds stalked three other women on the same night as attack
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Version 0 of 1. Police searching for a rapist have uncovered CCTV footage of a suspect stalking three other women earlier in the night. One of the women targeted turned around to find herself inches from the man, who is yet to be found by police. Another fled on a bus whilst a third was seemingly totally unaware of his presence. Later that evening a man violently attacked a girl of 18 waiting at a bus stop. He dragged her into a garden, raped her and battered her head 18 times with a rock before leaving her for dead. The 10 minute attack in Beeston, Leeds, was caught on CCTV at 10:45 PM on 6 March. The release of his image led to two women coming forward to police and saying that they believed that he had followed them too. Officers then found the film of the man seemingly "stalking" three other women in Leeds city centre. An e-fit of the man, said top be in his early 20s and of Asian skin tone Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen said: “His first target was a woman in her 20s who had parked her car. He is seen walking behind her, six inches from her back pocket. “She was so concerned she got on a bus that took her miles from where she was going.” The man was then filmed pursuing an unidentified woman through a line of bars before leaving the view of the cameras. The third target, a woman in her 40s, told police that the man had followed her for some distance out of the city centre. Mr Wallen said: “She was so concerned she headed for a shop. "On reaching it she is seen on film stopping and turning to see where he is. “As she does, she is face-to-face with him. He is only about an inch away.” The woman entered the shop and eventually exited when she believed the man to have the scene. However, CCTV footage shows that he had been hiding round the corner and then began to follow her again. Mr Wallen added: “She was terrified for her safety. She crossed the road, walked back towards Leeds and finally got a taxi home.” Both women described the man as in his early 20s, around 5ft 9in and of Asian skin tone. Police say that he was wearing a zip-up fake leather bomber jacket over a green Puma hoodie. Mr Wallen said that the rape victim is “traumatised” and too scared to leave her house. He said that he thought that she had escaped with her life because she was wearing a hijab and had the hood of her anorak up. This gave her a small degree of protection from the blows. “The violence level was horrific,” he said. “You can see him hitting her with a great deal of power. “It leads you to think he has done this before. We also feel he has not been in Britain for long.” He said that police have the attacker’s DNA but so far no match had been found in the UK. They are waiting to hear back from forces abroad. Anyone with more information should call West Yorkshire Police on 01924 334679. |