APPEAL: Woman raped and robbed at knifepoint in Doncaster

The woman, aged in her 40s, was pushed to the floor and had nine rings prised off her fingers in the attack, sustaining a head injury which needed hospital treatment.

She was returning home on Saturday night (20 February) between 11 and 11.30pm, when she was reportedly attacked at knife-point by three men in an alleyway in the Queen Street area of Balby.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Britten, the investigating officer, said: “This victim has been through a truly awful experience and we need the public’s help to identify the men we believe may be responsible.

“From CCTV enquiries we know there were a number of people in the area around the time of the incident with many returning from a local night out. We believe the men involved in the attack will have been seen by someone and we need that person to come forward.

“Following work by specialist officers, who have been supporting the victim and helping to retrace her steps, we now believe the attack has occurred in an alleyway in the Queen Street area.

“From CCTV we see the victim walk off Balby Road and turn down Queen Street just after 11pm. At the junction she is then seen to turn right into a cul-de-sac and that is the last we see until the victim reports the attack around 30 minutes later to a member of the public in Balby Road.

“During the incident the victim was raped and had nine rings, including her mother’s wedding and engagement rings, prised off her fingers. A distinctive gold belcher type locket was also taken. This contained a picture of the victim as a 15-year-old and a faded picture of her father. Are you a jeweller and have you been offered this for sale?

“This was a brutal attack where the victim was pushed to the floor and kicked sustaining a head injury which required hospital treatment. The men responsible need to be identified and arrested. If you were in the area on Saturday night, please come forward and speak to us.

“You may not believe that you’ve seen anything relevant to the investigation, but please let us be the judge of that. What you can recall from your walk home on Saturday night could be the key to unlocking this investigation.

“I know this incident has caused understandable concern to those living and working locally and I would like to reassure people that incidents of this nature are thankfully rare and I can assure you that this investigation is receiving all the resources you would expect and is being treated as an absolute priority.

“Neighbourhood patrols have also been stepped up in the area following the incident.”

Anyone with information that can assist the investigation is asked to contact police via: 101 and quoting incident number 1224 of the 20 February.

Information can also be emailed to: [email protected] or given, anonymously and in confidence, through Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111.