Detectives investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman on a student night out in Lancaster have released CCTV images of a man they want to trace.
Around 12.30am on Tuesday 1st October, the student was confronted by a man as she left a toilet cubicle in The Sugarhouse and was pushed back inside where she was raped.
The woman managed to fend off her attacker before running from the toilets to raise the alarm.
Police have now released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
Detective Superintendent Paul Withers said: “I have a dedicated team of detectives working on this case as we continue to try and find the person responsible.
“We are keen to speak with a man captured on CCTV inside The Sugarhouse. I appreciate it isn’t the best quality CCTV, but if anybody thinks they know who this person is then I would urge them to contact police. If you recall seeing this person on the night in question, perhaps you saw him on the dance floor, or more importantly making his way towards and enter the ladies’ toilets, then please come forward.
“We are also keen to speak with a second year female student who is believed to be studying law at Lancaster University and possibly spoke with the victim in the ladies’ toilets around the time of the incident. If this was you please come forward.
“There were around 1400 people in the club that night and once again I would like to reiterate our appeal to speak to any women who remember a man walking into the ladies’ toilets, or who saw a man in there, or who heard any shouting. If any men were in the ladies’ toilets for any reason we would also like them to come forward so we can speak to them and eliminate them from our enquiries.
“We are continuing to support the young woman who has suffered a particularly distressing ordeal and once again I would like to reassure people that sexual assaults of this nature are rare.”
• Anybody with any information can contact police on 101 quoting log number 0028 of 1 October or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org
Evidently the management weren't aware that their cctv is poorer quality than practically every other business in the area and effectively useless.
Lancaster Uni are supposed to be working with BAE on drones that can recognise and strike targets on the other side of the world, but they can't manage a system that can help protect their own students.
the pictures are not bad, but there are not enough cameras.
more to the point, is there truth in the toilets having two exits and the other one not being covered by cctv?