Woman Sexually Assaulted In Alleyway Between Sports Ground And Railway Line

Published on: 31 Jan, 2016
Updated on: 31 Jan, 2016

A woman was sexually assaulted in the alleyway between Walnut Tree Close and Woodbridge Road in the early hours of Saturday (January 30).

The woman was walking home alone along the alleyway (that is beside the sports ground and the railway embankment) in the direction of Woodbridge Road, between 2.05am and 2.15am and had just passed the Sea Cadets base when she was assaulted.

The Alley that runs from Woodbridge Road to Woodbridge meadow behind the Sea Cadets hut on the left.

The alley that runs from Woodbridge Road to Walnut Tree Close beside the Sea Cadets building, on the left.

She screamed, managing to fend him off, before he ran off in the direction of Walnut Tree Close. Officers attended the scene shortly afterwards, but there was no trace of the suspect.

The man is described as white, 5ft 9in, of a skinny build with short dark hair and a short dark beard and spoke with what is believed to be an Eastern European accent. He may also now have an injury to his lip.

Detective Constable Jo Smith, who is investigating the incident, said: “The victim has obviously been left extremely shocked and distressed by her ordeal. Thankfully, she was able to fend him off before anything more serious occurred. I am appealing to anyone who witnessed this incident, or has any information which could help us identify the offender, to come forward as soon as possible.

“We would like to reassure the local community that we have stepped up patrols in the area. We are also carrying out a thorough investigation, and have already followed up a number of lines of enquiry in order to identify the offender.

“In the meantime, however, we would urge women to avoid walking home alone in the area and either walk with friends or take a taxi from a reputable firm.”

If you can help, contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting crime reference 45160008330.

A previous assault took place in the same location in June 2015.

Surrey Police has issued precautions to ensure personal safety and these include:

If you have to walk, avoid short cuts in lonely areas. Keep to well-lit, busy streets;
Always walk facing oncoming traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you;
If you regularly go walking or jogging, vary your route;
Avoid using a personal music player or mobile phone while walking or jogging. They can distract you from your surroundings;
If you think you’re being followed, walk to the busiest place you can find or knock on a door. Then call the police;
Consider carrying a personal attack alarm;
When approaching your car or home, have your keys ready so you can enter without delay;
If you are attacked, shout for help as loudly as you can or shout for someone to contact the police. Use your personal attack alarm. Try to get to a safe place and call the police.

Responses to Woman Sexually Assaulted In Alleyway Between Sports Ground And Railway Line

Anna-Marie Davis Reply

January 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm

CCTV should be installed along here as a matter of urgency.

Especially given Tory plans to close the footbridge by the cinema, thus adding 10 minutes each way to a pedestrian commute to the station from this end of town, unless this alley is utilised.

Expecting residents of Stoke and Ladymead to extend their commute around Bridge Street is a considerable change to people’s daily routines, and also shows little appreciation of how busy the pavement of Bridge Street is at rush hour, where only one side can be utilised due to the barrier beyond the YMCA.

To those who suggest that the diversion and additional 10 minutes is minimal, on top of a 1 hour 45 minute each way commute to the City [London] (on the rare occasions when everything is working efficiently) a further 20 minutes is a notable increase, taking the daily grind to just under four hours.

CCTV needs to be installed, lighting needs to be enhanced and the concrete wall replaced with chain-link fencing to enable walkers to be better prepared for what lies ahead.

The footbridge by the Odeon should not be closed until improvements take place.
George Potter Reply

February 1, 2016 at 10:14 am

As far as I’m aware the footbridge near the Odeon is being replaced, not closed.
- Anna-Marie Davis Reply
  
  February 2, 2016 at 11:00 am
  
  It is indeed being replaced, but will be closed whilst the works take place, from late 2016 to some point in 2017.
Lisa Wright Reply

February 1, 2016 at 2:57 pm

Perhaps Surrey Police should have changed their advice to: It is illegal to attack or abuse people. If you commit any of these crimes then you must suffer the consequences with a hefty jail term.

I am fed up of seeing advice for women not to go here, there or anywhere at such and such a time and to carry alarms, etc.

Shouldn’t we be targeting our advice to the low life men, and yes, it usually is men, who commit these crimes?

Shouldn’t we be teaching parents, guardians, teachers, etc, etc, to teach these young boys right from wrong before they are old enough to cause pain and suffering to women?

What is the psychology behind all this abuse that’s being inflicted?
George Potter Reply

February 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm

In reply to Lisa Wright:

Hear hear!