Fresh CCTV appeal in hunt for man who raped deaf woman in Lincoln

Police today made a fresh appeal to the public to trace a man in connection with the rape of a disabled woman in Lincoln city centre reports This is Lincolshire (28/10/11).

Officers want to speak to the suspect about the attack, which happened behind a pub in Broadgate between 1.30am and 3am on December 18 last year. The victim was a profoundly deaf woman in her 20s.

The CCTV was filmed inside Sippers, which is now known as Scotty's Bar. Today police say they are stepping up their search and have issued fresh pleas for information. They are urging anyone who recognises this man to come forward and not protect him.

Detective Inspector Dave Swann of Lincolnshire Police said:
"This is a disgusting crime against a particularly vulnerable young woman. We are talking about a suspect implicated in a horrific attack on a profoundly deaf member of our community. This offender deserves absolutely no loyalty. He may be a threat to other women and needs to be brought to justice as soon as possible. Since the attack we have worked closely with the victim and her family to help her through the difficult and harrowing process of reporting a sex crime. Reliving an ordeal like this can be a vivid, terrifying experience and it requires huge bravery to see it through to this stage. Over the last 10 months we have gradually pieced together what happened with the victim and carried out an enquiry involving CCTV analysis, witness trawls, searches and appeals within the community. Our initial press appeal did not reveal the true horror of this attack. It is only the bravery of the victim in allowing personal information about her disability to be released that has enabled us to share this with the community. We now need people to respond. Please take a close look at this picture. Do you know him? Please call me and help us bring this potential offender to justice."

Contact Lincolnshire Police on 0300 1110300, alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.