Town living in fear after sex attacker sneaks into home in hunt for victim

A WOMAN who was subjected to a horrific, early-morning sex attack at a house was only staying there because she was in the middle of moving home, detectives have revealed.

The 39-year-old victim was temporarily living with her brother-in-law and his young son when the attacker sneaked into the detached home early on Saturday. Detectives have also revealed that the attacker ordered the terrified man and his son at knifepoint into a room before subjecting his victim to an hour-long ordeal.

The attacker tried to gain entry to up to four homes nearby in the hour before eventually finding an insecure door or window at the address where the attack took place, police confirmed. The incident, in Deans, Livingston, is causing so much concern that officers who specialise in tracking down sex offenders have been drafted in.

The squad is also examining UK-wide records in a bid to establish whether the attacker has struck before.

The victim has described her attacker as 6ft, in his 20s, with short dark hair, "chunky" sideburns, and wearing a cream hoodie top with the word "Crosshatch" across the chest, and a large pouch at the front. He also wore a blue baseball cap and jogging bottoms.

Detective Inspector Alan Somerville, who is leading the investigation, said: "We believe that our suspect has been trying doors, and knocking doors, in the hour before. I know of three, and possibly four (addresses]. I do not think that he targeted a particular house."

DI Somerville said some residents looked out of their window and saw a man whose description was consistent with the attacker.

He said reports that the victims were a couple and their child were wrong, adding: "It is the brother-in-law and his child. The victim has been staying there between house moves."

DI Somerville confirmed that the man and his child were forced into a separate part of the house while the attack was carried out. He urged people in the area to keep their doors and windows locked. "In addition, we are renewing our appeal for any information that can help us trace the suspect," he said.

"Similarly, anyone who thinks they have seen the suspect since the attack took place, or who recognises his description, should get in touch as a matter of urgency."

It is understood that detectives are studying a number of CCTV security tapes taken from the homes of neighbours.

Many of the properties in the street are worth in excess of 300,000. One neighbour, who lives very close to the house, said: "It is hard to believe something like that could happen here."

Another neighbour said: "I've lived here for five years and always left the door open. We are not leaving the door open now."