Appeal after woman sexually assaulted in Stowmarket

Police are appealing for information following a serious sexual assault in Stowmarket in the early hours of yesterday morning, Wednesday 19 November.

A woman aged in her 30s reported that she was out running along a pathway off Iliffe Way between 5:45am and 6am when she was approached, pulled to the ground and sexually assaulted by an unknown man.

The man is described as white, approximately 5ft 10ins in height, of medium build and was wearing a dark woolly beanie hat. He also wore a thick, dark rain jacket and dark trousers, and is reported to have smelled strongly of cigarettes and cannabis.

Detective Inspector Stuart Dolan-Allen said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for the woman who was simply out for a morning run when she was attacked.

“We understand this may concern the local community and we want to assure the public that we are investigating all lines of enquiry to identify the man responsible.

“The public can expect to see an increased police presence in the area whilst we conduct enquiries, and I would encourage anyone who uses that area as a regular walk-through to contact us with any information that may be of assistance.

“We know there were dog walkers, commuters and other runners out in the area in and around the time of the incident who may have seen something suspicious and we appeal to them to come forward. I would also encourage members of the public to approach our officers if they have any concerns.”

The victim is being supported by specialist officers.

Anyone with information should contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number:  37/65640/25

Website – Provide more information about an appeal | Suffolk Constabulary 

Phone – Call 101

Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers 

Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999

Support Available

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual assault or rape, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police. 

For more information and to find the support services available to you, please visit our support pages: How to report rape, sexual assault or other sexual offences | Suffolk Constabulary

In an emergency, call 999