Police warn women to take care after dark
Officers have issued an appeal after three incidents of women being followed late at night.
Meanwhile a student was left with a broken foot after being assaulted on Warwick Street.
Just before 10 pm on Wednesday 2nd February, a woman was followed by a man whilst walking along Unthank Road, near Amptill Street. Two days later, around the same time, a second woman reported that she had been followed by a man whilst walking from Dolphin Bridge along Heigham Street.
Later that same evening, around 11pm, a third female was assaulted by a man who appeared from the bushes as she walked along Marriott’s Way footpath. The woman was hit in the face causing bruising and a cut lip, and the offender ran off.
In all three cases the man is described as being approximately 6 foot, wearing a dark coloured jacket with a hood up and a scarf tied around his face.
West Centre Inspector Nigel Richards said: “The incidents are currently under investigation and, while we do not wish to raise undue alarm, we are advising people – especially women – to ensure they take precautions if out and about after dark.”
They suggest taking steps such as planning how you get home, sticking with friends and avoiding isolated areas. Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact PC Simon Gooch on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
In a separate incident on Saturday 29th January, a group of UEA students walking home after a night out were attacked on Warwick Street, just off Unthank Road.
Preferring to remain anonymous, one student said: “Some lads came out of the shop and were immediately aggressive towards us, asking if we were laughing at them. One of them threatened my friend, and then proceeded to punch him in the face for absolutely no reason. At that point I tried to intervene and break things up; I pushed between them but one of the other lads rounded on me. He punched me on the jaw. I then got kicked in the ankle while I was lying on the floor, and it cracked my lower fibula leg bone.”
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