Man stalked woman and allegedly sexually assaulted her under bridge (original) (raw)

Police have made a public appeal for information about a late night sexual assault near Cardiff city centre that has left the victim unable to sleep or leave the house. The case featured on the latest episode of BBC's Crimewatch Live as detectives urged people to come forward and help with their investigation.

Detective inspector Daniel Todd made a live television appeal for information on the suspect who remains unknown and described the effect the attack, that happened in May this year, has had on the woman.

She was walking from Pulse nightclub out of city centre when she became aware of a man walking behind her. She was then sexually assaulted under the railway bridge close to Senghenydd Hall.

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The victim ran onto Salisbury Road and the suspect was last seen under the bridge .It happened during the early hours Sunday, May 12.

A month after the attack, detectives investigating the sexual assault released a photograph of a man they believe could help with their enquiries. They are urging anyone who knows the male caught on camera or the individual himself to contact police.

Police investigating a sexual assault in the Cathays area of Cardiff have released a picture of a man they want to trace (Image: South Wales Police)

A man police would like to speak to was seen on CCTV at the entrance to the nightclub

DI Todd told the show on Friday: “The young victim, only 23 years of age, had been for a night out with friends in Cardiff city centre and was going home when she was approached by a man and sexually assaulted.

"The attack had had a lasting effect on her, she thinks about it every day and she has trouble sleeping. It's made her anxious and it's taken her weeks to leave the house.”

He explained how the incident started at Pulse nightclub on Churchill Way, just off Queen Street, and then she made her way onto Windsor Place, then St Andrew's Place and she was attacked under the bridge that leads to Salisbury Road.

The route that the victim took on the night:

Police have gathered a lot of CCTV from the night of the alleged attack, including the suspect entering Pulse nightclub as the victim was leaving.

DI Todd said: "What is quite chilling is the way in which he positions his body across her to ensure that she has to brush past him as she goes past. As soon as she leaves the club, he turns immediately around and follows her through the streets of Cardiff.

"He spent a period of time following her at a distance. He even made an effort to cross the road to create a distance. As they go onto St Andrew's Place he quickens up and approaches her. He engaged her in very sexually explicit conversation before placing his hand up her skirt, and grabbing her around the neck."

There is also CCTV of the suspect returning back to the city centre after the attack. The detective said: "It shows him walking quite nonchalantly and he heads back to Pulse nightclub, he then goes up Queen Street before heading up Newport Road and City Road, in the general direction of Whitchurch Road, Cathays area, where we think he resides."

The case featured on BBC's Crimewatch Live (Image: BBC)

A victim impact statement was also read out on the programme, with presenter Michelle Ackerley saying: "The victim said to us that the attack has had a lasting effect on her, she thinks about it every day and she now has trouble sleeping."

She described him as middle Eastern in appearance, in his 20s, about 5ft 11ins with dark hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a distinctive beige gillet that was unzipped with a white T-Shirt underneath and dark trousers.

South Wales Police said: "Extensive enquiries have been conducted since the matter was reported and the victim is being supported. Anyone with information, or the individual himself, is asked to contact police." Anyone with any information can call South Wales Police on 101,

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