Edinburgh sex attack suspect flies back to India

By SHÂN ROSS
Published on 31/07/2012 00:48

AN INDIAN student who police in Scotland want to trace in connection with a brutal sex attack on a woman, has fled back to his homeland.

A 23-year-old woman was assaulted in Pilrig Park in Edinburgh in the early hours of Sunday morning on 22 July in what police described as a “brutal and unprovoked attack”.

The victim, who also suffered serious facial injuries, was taken to hospital for treatment.

It is believed the man caught a flight to India shortly after the sexual assault. A warrant for the man’s arrest was issued earlier this week. The authorities are liaising with police in India in a bid to trace the man and have him extradited back to Scotland.

The UK has a complicated extradition process with India which can result in lengthy investigations. But it is understood Scottish authorities hope the man will be returned to Edinburgh for questioning by police.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “A warrant has been issued for a 25-year-old male and as proceedings are active it would be inappropriate to comment further.” A police spokeswoman confirmed that the warrant for a 25-year-old man remained 
active.

The woman had been out with friends in the city centre and left the HMV Picture House nightclub on Lothian Road at around 3am on Sunday to return home. She was recorded on CCTV making her way to the west end of Princes Street before walking east.

Two members of the public found the injured woman, who is from Edinburgh, in the park’s playground at around 6am and called an ambulance.