Witness sought in rape investigation
We’re keen to trace the man in the above image, who may be the person who came to the aid of a distressed woman in Bristol in the early hours of Friday 15 March.
He’s described as wearing a light-coloured jacket and jeans and carrying a bag. The CCTV image shows him walking along Bedminster Parade at about 1.55am, not long after leaving the woman near ASDA Bedminster.
The woman had hurt her ankle earlier and was sitting outside Broughton House on Somerset Street, Redcliffe, just before 1am. A man approached her and offered to help her home, before he carried her to Clarence Road and raped her near Spencer House.
The man in the CCTV image is asked to come forward as he may have valuable information.
The woman, who is in her forties and white, arrived home in a distressed state and police were called. She has been offered specialist support.
The suspect is described as being in his twenties and white, wearing black clothing with his head and face covered by a scarf.
We’d urge the man who helped the woman to ASDA, or anyone else with information which could help the investigation, to contact us.
Help is available for victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent. People can self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7 365 days a year. Visit their website or call 0117 342 6999.
There are also details of charities and organisations with expertise in supporting victims at www.thisisnotanexcuse.org.
If you feel unsafe in a public place you can report it via the police StreetSafe tool. The tool helps to inform our approach to protecting women and girls and allows police and partners to target particular areas of concern.
If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224066648, or complete our online appeals form.
You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.