Girl aged 16 raped as she walks dog

A 16-YEAR-OLD girl was raped while out walking her dog, police have said.

• Officers at the scene of the assault yesterday. A dog walker may have seen the attacker and victim, police said. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The victim was heading along a footpath towards the red bridge in the Crewe Toll area of Edinburgh when she was grabbed from behind, pulled off the path and attacked.

She eventually managed to escape and got help from two members of the public.

Police said the teenager had been left "deeply distressed and traumatised" by the assault, which happened at around 10pm on Wednesday. Detectives are keen to speak to a dog walker in his 60s who may have seen the victim and the suspect.

They are also urging anyone who may have been in the area and seen anything suspicious to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Grant Dougall, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This random attack has left the young girl deeply distressed and traumatised.

"It is essential that anyone who was in or around the footpath or cycle path at Crewe Toll around 10pm last night, and believes they saw or heard anything out of sorts, contacts police immediately.

"We would urgently appeal for the male dog walker to get in touch. He may have seen the victim and suspect together and believed the situation to be innocent.

"However he may be able to provide us with essential information that can help us trace the man responsible for this attack."

Police said they would revisit the scene last night, around 24 hours after the assault took place.

They said officers would provide a high-visibility presence in the area as they talked to local residents in a bid to gather information.

Det Insp Dougall added: "The purpose of this revisit is to speak to those who regularly frequent the Crewe Toll area and may have been there around 10pm last night.

"The footpath and surrounding area is used by numerous people including cyclists, dog walkers and members of the public cutting through."

The suspect is described as being white, in his mid-20s, 5ft 5in, of slim build, with short dark hair, a gaunt face and a stubbly complexion.

He was wearing a black, short-sleeved top with white writing across the chest.

The man also had on blue Adidas jogging bottoms with white stripes on the legs, and white trainers. He spoke with a local accent.

Anyone with any information relating to the incident should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131 or the confidential Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.