A rapist may have tried to force his way into another woman’s house 20 minutes before he attacked a student in Dundee.
Police are hunting for a man described as being in his late thirties who committed the “horrific” assault on Thursday evening on West Henderson’s Wynd – close to the Verdant Works museum.
His 18-year-old female victim is being supported by friends and family, but police say the attacker is still at large after being chased off by members of the public.
A 27-year-old shop worker told The Courier a man tried to force his way into her house on Polepark Road, less than 400 yards away from the scene of the attack, about 20 minutes before the teenager was put through her ordeal.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was terrified at the thought of what could have happened.
She bravely fought off the would-be attacker, who charged at her door after she returned from work.
She said: “I was walking up my close at around 7.50pm on Thursday night when I noticed a man in the corner of my eye outside my neighbour’s door. He had his back to me.
“I opened my door and assumed the man was looking for my neighbour and made my way into my flat.
‘Screaming’
“The next thing I know, he has turned around and is sprinting down the close towards my front door, screaming.
“I went to push the door closed and pushed it as hard as I could to get him out my flat. I kept trying to push him away – I took a pretty big gouge at his eye. He just kept screaming: ‘Are you Olivia, where is Olivia!’ I have no idea who ‘Olivia’ is.
“I was able to get the door closed and locked and called the police.
“He was in his late thirties or early forties, I’d say. About 5 foot 6 inches tall and his face was covered in acne scars.
“He had a blue pullover jumper on, with a hood and white trainers.
‘Fight or flight’
“I properly went for him as I was fending him off. It was all reflex, like fight or flight. He should have a mark on his eye now too. I fought back, I didn’t know what else to do.
“I told the police everything that happened, but had absolutely no idea there was a sexual assault less than twenty minutes later just down the road.
“I am really shocked by it. It’s horrible to think what could have happened. I’m shaken up by it.
“I had assumed it was an attempted robbery, there have been so many break-ins in the area recently – that is what I thought it was.
“Police told me on Thursday night they believed it was an ‘opportunistic’ burglary attempt.”
Detective chief inspector Graham Binnie said investigating officers were aware of the Polepark Road incident as part of their sex assault inquiries.
‘Distressing’
He said: “I am very aware there are a lot of students living in the area and I am very aware this may be distressing to them – particularly those who may be new to Dundee.
“We are working with the two universities at the moment to make sure we can do all we can to offer safety advice to those students who live and study and socialise in that area of the city.
“The Polepark Road incident which happened 20 minutes earlier will be treated absolutely as part of our inquiries.
“As part of the inquiry we are examining calls made to the police at similar times and similar areas of the city on Thursday night and that is one which has already been identified by police and is forming part of our lines of inquiry.
‘Normal precautions’
“People should take the normal precautions they would take going about their normal business, but I wouldn’t wish to unduly alarm people.”
The suspect is described as being 5ft 7in, in his late thirties. He was wearing a dark hooded top and Adidas jogging bottoms and white trainers.
He is white, has a Scottish accent, is of medium to heavy build and has short hair.
Verdant Works remained closed on Friday while forensics officers scoured the cobbled streets surrounding the museum for evidence.
A grey taxi was loaded on to the back of a flat-bed truck on Friday afternoon as part of inquiries.
Police hope the 18-year-old victim’s distinctive yellow jacket might prove vital in helping them with their investigation.
A spokesman for Abertay University said the institution was offering personal safety advice to students in the wake of the attack and were cooperating with police.
Dundee University was approached for comment.
Anyone who has information regarding the sexual assault is asked to contact police on 101. Alternatively, information can be handed over anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
