Teenage girl dragged into dark alleyway and sexually assaulted in CBD
A TEENAGE girl was dragged into a dark Melbourne laneway, held captive and sexually assaulted in a disturbing attack near Swanston St. Police believe she may have been followed before the assault — and are looking for three good Samaritans who came to her aid.
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A TEENAGE girl was dragged into a dark alleyway and held captive during a disturbing sexual assault in the CBD.
Police are seeking witnesses to track down the suspect, described by police as being aged in his 20s and tall with dark brown skin.
They have released images of three Good Samaritans who helped the distressed victim.
Police have urged the men to come forward to help catch the sexual predator.
Police say the man approached a girl, aged in her late teens and wearing a black jacket, as she was walking along Flinders St towards Swanston St to catch a tram shortly after 1.45am on Saturday, June 9.
He was earlier at a bar below a hostel located between Elizabeth and Degraves streets.
The creep put his arm around her shoulders and neck and began talking with her as she walked.
He pulled the woman toward him and kissed her as they passed the Metro Tunnel works.
She pushed him away and continued walking toward Swanston St, but the man kept hold of her.
Police say he then dragged the young victim into an alleyway and locked her behind the metal gates before sexually assaulting her.
She managed to scream and run away from her attacker toward Flinders Lane.
Three men approached the visibly distressed woman and helped her get in touch with a friend to organise transport home.
Police believe she did not tell the men she had been sexually assaulted.
The victim was “extremely traumatised” by the attack, and came forward to police in July.
Police have conducting an extensive canvas for CCTV in the CBD area in an attempt to locate vision to help arrest the man.
Sex Crimes Squad Detective Sergeant Dale Lapham said investigators were probing whether the girl was followed before the attack.
“We don’t know much about this person … whether he was loitering around the area or had done this sort of thing before or has followed her from when she was with friends or the nightclub,” he said.
“It appears he has come out of bar area and it’s a crime of opportunity but we would like to know if anyone else has had a similar occurrence involving a similar person in that area.”
Det Sgt Lapham said it was concerning the attack occurred in the alleyway, which is ordinarily unlocked for a three-hour window each night.
“What concerns us is how he knew this would be an area he could take someone,” he said.
“It is very brazen. It happened on one of the most popular streets in Victoria … for that to happen at that time is very concerning to us.”
The nearby backpackers accommodation has been cooperative with the police investigation but police suspect the man may live locally.
The victim believes about four people saw her immediately after the attack.
“She heard people outside comment there were people behind the gates,” said Det Sgt Lapham.
Detectives today released images of three men who helped the victim in the hope they will come forward to assist in the investigation.
Police stressed the men are not linked to the offender in any way and were not involved in the incident.
They have urged anyone who saw the victim leave the alleyway or heard her screams to contact police.
Anyone who captured dashcam or social media footage in the vicinity of the incident, particularly near the bar the man was at prior to the attack, are also encouraged to contact police.
He is described as being aged in his early 20s, around 178cm tall with a lean build, dark brown skin and short hair.
He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and long pants.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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