July 2, 2013: Police have released security camera vision of a man wanted for the brutal sexual assault of a 23-year-old woman in a North Melbourne laneway.
A 23-year-old woman who was stalked, bashed and then raped in a Melbourne laneway had been returning home from celebrating the birth of her first child.
She gave birth two months ago and was out in the city for the first time with her friends when a stranger started following her on her walk home alone.
Police say the man stalked her for about a kilometre into North Melbourne, then dragged her into a laneway where she was punched, kicked and sexually assaulted.
Her screams alerted nearby residents, prompting the man to flee with her handbag.
Detective Inspector Paul Binyon said the attack in the early hours of Sunday morning could have been fatal if not for those witnesses hearing her cries.
"There's no doubt that this was a brutal attack, but we are fortunate that she is still here with us," he told reporters.
North Melbourne resident Ben Bishop said he was about to go to sleep on early on Sunday morning when he heard a woman screaming.
He initially dismissed the cries as "a normal drunk person screaming" before the noises "started to sound serious" prompting him to get out of bed and investigate.
"I heard a woman yell, 'Help'. I looked out my window and I saw this girl and her face was covered in blood," he said.
"She was beaten really badly, had a massive swollen eye, she was trying to fight him off."
Police released CCTV footage yesterday that shows a person of interest wanted over the attack.
The footage shows an unshaven man in a black leather jacket, jeans, white runners and a hat who had been walking in the area.
"This woman did not know this man in any way. She rebuffed his approaches on a number of occasions," Detective Inspector Binyon said.
"She made it very clear she did not want his advances and his actions are totally wrong and I cannot condone what he’s done. It’s just an abhorrent crime."
The inspector said while the woman had not seen the footage she had given a detailed description of the attack.
The woman's black handbag is still missing.
She was released from hospital yesterday after undergoing surgery for her serious injuries.
Source: Herald Sun
Author: Martin Zavan, Approving editor: Jack Hawke
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