Police hunt man after woman raped on city common

A woman was raped on the Town Moor in Newcastle during the middle of the day, police have said.

Northumbria Police said the victim, aged in her 40s, had been sexually assaulted between 13:15 and 14:15 BST on Tuesday.

The suspect is described as being white, in his mid-30s, about 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall and of muscular build with short dark hair with grey flecks. He is believed to have been wearing black jogging pants and a white t-shirt at the time and was riding a pedal bike.

Appealing for potential witnesses to the attack to come forward, Det Insp Amanda Dickinson said: "While offences of this nature are extremely rare in our area, we recognise the concern they can cause in our communities."

Police said the suspect and the woman had met a short time earlier on a footbridge from Claremont Road in the Spital Tongues area of the city.

The man, who was unknown to her, left the scene on Town Moor after the incident and headed towards Grandstand Road.

Dickinson said she "wanted to recognise the bravery of the victim in coming forward" and since the report the police "have had an increased presence in the area and would ask anyone who does have any concerns to speak to an officer".

Officers are also keen for anyone with any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area at the time to get in touch.

The victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

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