Teenage girl raped in Crewe Toll

A TEENAGE girl was raped by a man who attacked her as she walked her dog along a path in the Crewe Toll area of the Capital.

The 16-year-old victim was walking her dog along the footpath towards the Red Bridge at around 10pm last night when she passed a man and continued walking.

The man then grabbed her from behind and pulled her off the path before raping her.

After some time, the victim managed to flee her attacker and make off from the scene where she was assisted by two members of the public.

Police are now urging anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed anything suspicious to come forward.

Detectives are particularly keen to speak to a man in his 60s walking a black dog who may have seen the victim and the suspect.

The suspect is described as white, mid 20s, 5ft 5in tall with a slim build, short dark hair, gaunt face and a stubbly complexion. He was wearing a black short-sleeved top with white writing across the chest and a coloured pattern beneath the writing, blue Adidas jogging bottoms with white stripes on the legs and white trainers with a red symbol on the tongue. He spoke with a local accent.

Detective Inspector Grant Dougall 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."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.