The group of men wearing black clothing and black balaclavas allegedly held a knife to the woman’s neck before sexually assaulting her in the latest of five incidents involving the same victim
Police are searching for a group of masked men after a woman reported having a knife held to her neck before being sexually assaulted in a spate of terrifying incidents.
The victim was walking between Old Run View and West Grange Road in Leeds just before 10.50am on Monday, December 8, when four men wearing black clothing and black balaclavas, and riding two electric bikes, approached the woman, West Yorkshire Police said.
The masked men then fled the scene.
“The offence follows five other incidents of harassment or assault reported to police and believed to be racially aggravated, which have taken place against the same victim in and around the same area over the past month,” the statement read.
“It is believed that the same group of males were involved on all occasions.”
The previous incidents all took place during the daytime, with the first taking place between 3pm and 3.30pm on Wednesday, November 12, West Yorkshire Police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Freeman of Leeds District’s Safeguarding Unit appealed for information about the incidents and the four males believe to be involved.
“This was a particularly horrific incident for the victim to endure and clearly shows an escalating pattern of targeted behaviour,” Freeman said.
She asked anyone with information or CCTV footage of the incidents to contact police. Det Chief Inspector Freeman added: “If you have CCTV footage of the incidents or know anything about what has taken place, I would ask you to please get in contact.”
“This is a serious incident, and we want to know who these males are or might be. We are interested in knowing any information about individuals riding e-bikes while wearing masks or balaclavas around Belle Isle.” Anyone with information contact West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or go online at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat quoting reference 13250703697.
Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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