Teenage girl raped by cyclist in woods near Scottish castle

The girl was attacked when she separated from her friends.

A teenage girl has been raped by a cyclist in a wooded area near a castle.

The girl had been with friends in the woods near Bothwell Castle, South Lanarkshire, on Wednesday, May 20 when the incident happened.

She broke away from the group and a man attacked her between the hours of 5.45pm and 7.30pm.

Police launch investigation after teenage girl raped near Bothwell Castle

Officers are still gathering CCTV footage for any further information on the incident.

The suspect is white, in his 20s, with a slim build and has a shaved head.

He was wearing a red t-shirt and blue shorts at the time and was riding a black mountain bike with green neon writing on the frame and tyres.

The bike was also fitted with mud guards to the front and rear wheels.

Detective Inspector David Lamont said: “I am appealing to members of the public who may have been in the area around the relevant time on Wednesday night to think back and consider if they saw this man.

“The bike was fairly distinctive in colour so you may remember seeing it.

“If you have any information regarding the incident, the suspect or the bike, please pass your information on.

“Any small detail could prove vital as we piece together the circumstances of what has happened.

“I’m aware that local people will be concerned by this incident and I would like to assure them that additional patrols are in the area to offer reassurance and anyone with concerns can approach these officers.”

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at Blantyre Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 1806 of 21 May, 2020. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where you can provide information anonymously.