Hampshire Constabulary

Police investigating male rape in Southampton release CCTV picture

Press Releases

Published: 24/12/2008

Detectives in Southampton are today, December 24, releasing a CCTV still  that may help them track down a vital witness to a male rape in the city.

A 20-year-old man reported he had been raped by a man described as middle aged.

The man forced him back to an address in Southampton by holding some sort of weapon to his back and then raped him. The attacker had approached the man and started talking to him while he was waiting for a bus in Southampton City Centre on Monday afternoon, December 22.

Police have CCTV footage showing the victim with another man near the Charlotte Place Roundabout. It also shows a woman walking past them. Officers are keen to trace the women as she may be vital witness. A picture of her is now being released.

They are asking her or anyone who thinks they may know who she is to contact them.

Detective Inspector Roger Middle from Bitterne CID said: “This is an extremely rare incident in our city and I can assure the community as with all crimes of such a serious nature a considerable amount of policing and community resources will be employed to identify and arrest the attacker.

“We’d really like to hear from the woman shown in the CCTV as she may be able to provide us with useful information. Even though it is a distant shot we are hoping she will know who she is.  We’d also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen the 20-year-old man with his attacker on the park benches by the bus stops off Pound Tree Road around 3pm yesterday.”

“My team can be contacted at Bitterne CID on 0845 045 45 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting Operation Urban.”