Information on rape sought

Press, 30 July 1985, Page 9

Information on rape sought

A woman, aged 31, was raped in a park on the corner of Retreat Road and Patten Street, Avonside, early yesterday morning. Detective Senior-Sergeant Michael Muddiman said that the woman, who lives in Avonside Drive, went for a walk barefoot about 2 a.m. after having a disagreement with her husband. A man on a 10-speed bicycle pulled alongside her while she was walking along Retreat Road. He asked whether she wanted him .to ring the police. She said no but the man continued riding alongside and talking to her for several minutes before riding off. The woman came to the park and noticed a man with a 10-speed bicycle leaned against a shed. The man walked over to her, grabbed her by the throat,

and raped her. The woman eventually, broke free from her attacker, and ran to a nearby house for help. The male occupant of the house went to the park but the offender had left. He recovered some of the woman’s clothing and a brown foreign imitation leather jacket, which might have belonged to the rapist. Detective Senior-Sergeant Muddiman said the first cyclist the woman saw might not have been her attacker. The police would like to hear from anyone who saw or spoke to her. The offender is described as a male European, aged about 18, of medium build, clean shaven, with short, sandy-coloured hair. He had a gap between his front teeth, and was wearing a red T-shirt with a blue pattern on the front.