Cabbie may hold vital information about Leith attacker
Police are looking for a skateboarder after a 33-year-old woman was raped in Leith at the weekend. The attack happened near the Water of Leith Walkway at Anderson Place shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Police said the man, who was white and aged between 18 and 24, subjected the woman to a ‘terrifying ordeal’
The attacker is describes as about 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with short, brown hair, close-cropped at the back and sides. He had dark stubble and also had a prominent dark circular earring in one or both ears. He was wearing a camouflage patterned hooded jacket, blue jeans and trainers, and had earphones, a rucksack on his back, and a skateboard.
A police spokesman told the BBC: “The suspect is thought to have an accent, possibly Irish, although this is not certain, and he seems not to know Edinburgh well.”
The victim had been out in the Leith area and was returning home via Bonnington Road and Anderson Place. The man, who had been walking in the same direction, asked for directions to Ferry Road and then ushered her on to the path leading to the Water of Leith Walkway before attacking her.
Det Ch Insp Martin MacLean said: “This was and remains a terrifying ordeal for this woman. I would urge anyone who recognises the description of the suspect, or who was in or around Bonnington Road, Anderson Place or the Water of Leith Walkway at Anderson Place on Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday morning and remembers seeing anything suspicious to contact us immediately.
“The suspect is distinctive as, unusually for that time in the morning, he was seen both on his skateboard and carrying it. I also now know that our suspect hailed a black hackney taxi on Ferry Road shortly after the attack at around 00:15 on the Saturday morning, and headed westwards. The taxi driver might remember the male carrying his skateboard, and I urge that taxi driver to come forward.”
LATEST NEWS:
A 22 year old man has been charged following the alleged rape. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday.14 June).
Police Scotland have thanked the public for coming forward with information.
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