Police Hunt Rapists in Newcastle

Source: Evening Chronicle

A GANG who raped a teenager in the back of a car are today at large.

Police are hunting three men who subjected the 19-year-old to a terrifying ordeal after picking her up outside a city centre nightclub.

The attack happened after the victim got into a car with two strangers outside the Liquid Envy Club on New Bridge Street in Newcastle at 3am on Friday.

She climbed into the silver Citroen Saxo parked outside the club when she became separated from her friends.

The woman was driven along Market Street to Grainger Street, where the men met up with another group, also in a silver car.

Two men from the second car climbed into the back seat of the Saxo with the woman.

The two cars drove off together and stopped somewhere in Newcastle, where the teenager was raped by three men.

The attackers then drove their traumatised victim to the Denton Burn area of Newcastle, where she was left.

Detectives say they are still keeping an open mind about whether the attack was premeditated.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: Its unknown at this stage whether the two cars meeting up was planned, but we are appealing for witnesses.

Detectives believe clubbers in the area at the time the woman was picked up may have vital information.

And police are appealing to city centre revellers to help find the rapists.

Det Cons Andy Smith, of Newcastle CID, said: We are appealing for help from the public to identify the men responsible for this rape.

In particular, we are appealing for other people who were outside Liquid Envy Club at 3am on Friday to contact us, as they may have information and may remember seeing the car or the men.

The victim was able to describe her attackers to detectives.

The first man is white, between 20 and 25, and had a muscled body with short, fair hair. The second man is also white and in his early 20s, tanned and of a thin build

The third man is of stocky build, with very short hair or a skin head.

Police are now studying CCTV footage in a bid to identify the rapists.

While officers say rapes involving a number of men are rare, they are urging women not to leave themselves vulnerable when out in the city centre.

Det Cons Smith added: Attacks of this nature involving a number of men are rare, but we do want to remind women to take personal safety advice and not to get into a vehicle with a man you don’t know.

Police advise women to plan ahead and make sure you have a taxi booked to take you safely home.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newcastle CID on 03456 043 043 ext 62226 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Note From Admin.

When this incident was reported on local radio, Michael Craik, Chief Constable, Northumbria Police, gave advice to clubbers and young women in particular.Part of that advice was to pre-book a Taxi for safety reasons. It would have been a good idea to also state that there are many Licenced Hackney Carriages in the City Centre. Newcastle Hackney Carriages are clearly identifiable in that they are Black in colour with red circular door decals bearing the words ‘City of Newcastle upon Tyne Hackney Carriage’ and the Licence number of the Carriage,a red plate is also affixed to the rear of the vehicle bearing the licence number of the Taxi. They also have an illuminated roofsign bearing the word ‘Taxi’ and the driver will be wearing an identity badge issued by Newcastle City Council.   Hiring a Licenced Hackney Carriage and/or pre-booking a Private Hire car is always the safest way to get home.

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