Investigation launched after report of teenager being raped in Newcastle
The girl, 15, was allegedly attacked after being picked up in the city centre
An investigation has been launched after a report that a teenager was raped in Newcastle.
Just after 2am on Sunday morning police received a report that a 15-year-old had been raped in a car after being picked up by a stranger in the city centre.
Officers spoke to the teenage girl who reported that she had been travelling into Monument Metro Station as she attempted to make her way home.
She spoke to a number of members of the public and walked with them towards the Haymarket in a bid to find her way back to her address in Cowgate.
But she told officers that between 1.15am and 2am she was approached by a man in a dark car near to the Haymarket who offered to give her a lift.
She accepted the offer and the vehicle has travelled towards Cowgate, before it was reported that the driver parked on a street in Blakelaw and raped her in the back seat.
He has then dropped her off at her home address and left the area in the vehicle. The victim has then reported the incident to police.
An investigation to identify the suspect is still ongoing and specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department are supporting the teenager and her family.
But now detectives have appealed for anyone who may have spoken to the 15-year-old girl in the early hours of Sunday morning to get in touch.
Detective Inspector Tanya Robinson said:
“An investigation into this incident is well underway and we are continuing to offer the teenager all the support she needs.
“There are a number of active lines of enquiry but we are still trying to identify some of the people the victim who may have spoken to her before being picked up by the suspect.
“In particular we are keen to trace two women with Irish accents who walked with the teenager towards Haymarket in a bid to try and help her return home.
“We also would be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a lone teenage girl get into a black or dark vehicle near to the Haymarket between 1.15am and 2am on Sunday morning.
“There is already a highly visible policing presence in the city centre since the re-opening of our night time economy and if anyone has any concerns we would ask you to approach our officers.”
Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to contact officers through the Northumbria Police website, or by calling 101, and quoting log 153 23/05/21.