Rape investigation continues
POLICE investigating following the rape of a 19-year-old Norfolk woman at Latitude on Thursday night are following up several lines of enquiry and are renewing appeals for festival goers to get in touch if they have any information that may assist.
POLICE investigating following the rape of a 19-year-old Norfolk woman at Latitude on Thursday night are following up several lines of enquiry and are renewing appeals for festival goers to get in touch if they have any information that may assist.
Over the weekend up to 15,000 flyers were distributed on the site by police and security staff employed by organisers Festival Republic.
Police are thanking the organisers for their help and are also thanking those members of the public who have already contacted officers offering information.
As thousands of festival goers return home police are today renewing pleas for anyone who may have seen the 19-year-old woman on the Latitude site around 10pm - 10.30pm on Thursday night to come forward.
The woman - who was wearing denim jeggings, a yellow and white check shirt, a black cardigan and Wellington boots - left her tent in the red area of the campsite to find the toilet but lost her bearings and approached a group of young men for directions.
After walking with the group for some distance some of the males left to go in another direction while the other males led the victim off a path and into a wooded area where she was raped by at least one of them.
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Police are continuing to appeal for any members of this group to come forward and are asking anyone with information about who they are to get in touch with officers as soon as possible.
Detective Chief Inspector David Cutler, who is leading the investigation into the rape on Thursday, said; “We are particularly keen to trace a man described as of muscular build with a shaved head who was among those who left the group before the incident occurred as he may have important information that can help the enquiry.”
DCI Cutler continues; “We also need to trace a man described as white with dark curly hair, around 5ft 7ins tall, of medium build, possibly in his 20s and with a cockney accent and described as 'looking like a student' who walked with the young woman into the wooded area, and are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the woman herself around this time on Thursday night.
“Please take a look at her description and see if you remember being approached by her around 10pm - 10.30pm on Thursday for directions - or if you were out on the site around this time did you see her?”
Police are asking anyone who saw the woman or anyone with information about the men or the group to call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500, or Crimestoppers, anonymously if required, on 0800 555 111.
A 19-year-old man from Essex arrested following a second allegation of rape at Latitude has now been bailed to return to Lowestoft Police Station on Thursday 2 September, pending further investigation into the allegation made by a 17-year-old girl from Suffolk on Saturday July 17.
She reported she had been raped in a tent on the campsite overnight Friday 16 - Saturday 17.
Police are not linking the two incidents.
