Plea to people on riverbank over Ilkley attack (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Plea to people on riverbank over Ilkley attack

9:06am Wednesday 17th June 2009 in

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Two distinctive looking rapists who attacked a 14-year-old girl at an Ilkley beauty spot are being hunted by detectives.

Officers are hoping the hundreds of people who were at the riverbank in the town centre on Sunday afternoon will come forward with vital information about the pair who had been seen pestering women in the area.

After making remarks to their victim as she passed by, they followed her as she walked her dog along the riverbank and pounced as she made her way home through Middleton Woods, dragging her off a path.

The woods were sealed off by police as forensic teams yesterday continued to comb the area for evidence.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Oddy, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team of West Yorkshire Police, who is leading the inquiry, said officers had high hopes of catching the suspects because of the numbers of people in and around the area of the New Bridge Street bridge and the Ilkley Skate Park at the time.

The suspects were seen there between 5pm and 6pm.

Both are between 5ft 4ins and 5ft 6ins tall, aged about 19, and spoke with a Yorkshire accent.

One was white, and had a distinctive, mousey-coloured Mohican-style hair cut – short at the sides and long on top and the back.

He was wearing grey, jogging style bottoms which were rolled up to the knees, a grey vest top and black trainers. He was also wearing a chunky gold chain around his neck.

The other suspect is black, not as stocky as the other, and had a shaved head. He was dressed all in black, with Nike trainers and had car keys with him.

Det Chief Insp Oddy said that the schoolgirl, who cannot be identified, had been left traumatised by the attack.

He said: “The girl is understandably upset by her ordeal and is being cared for by family and specially-trained officers.”

Det Chief Insp Oddy advised women out walking on their own to take reasonable precautions.

He said: “I would remind people that this is a very rare crime and that Ilkley is normally a safe place for both adults and children.”

Anyone who saw the suspects and the car they are believed to have been using, have been urged to contact the police incident room on (01274) 376104 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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