Suspect in horrific Dundee rape may have struck twice in one night

THE suspect behind a horrific rape near a busy university may have been responsible for another attack on a woman just 20 minutes before.

Police detectives are reportedly investigating the second attack as part of their inquiries into the assault in Dundee on Thursday evening.

Officers are hunting a male suspect after a teenager was raped in car park in the west end of the city – an area popular with students.

He has been described as being in his late thirties, 5ft 7in or 5ft 8in tall, had a Scottish accent, was of a medium to heavy build, had short hair and was wearing a dark hooded top and Adidas jogging bottoms.

A 27-year-old woman has claimed a man tried to force his way into her house on Polepark Road – less than 400 yards from the scene of the attack – around 20 minutes prior to the violent attack on the 18-year-old.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I was walking up my close at around 7.50pm on Thursday night when I noticed a man in the corner of my eye outside my neighbour’s door. He had his back to me.

“The next thing I know, he has turned around and is sprinting down the close towards my front door, screaming.

“I properly went for him as I was fending him off.

“It was all reflex, like fight or flight. He should have a mark on his eye now too.

“I fought back, I didn’t know what else to do.”

According to reports, Detective Chief Inspector Graham Binnie said investigating officers were aware of the Polepark Road incident as part of their sex assault inquiries.

He said: “The Polepark Road incident, which happened 20 minutes earlier, will be treated absolutely as part of our inquiries.

“We are examining calls made to the police at similar times and in similar areas of the city on Thursday night.

“The Polepark Road incident is one which has already been identified by police and is forming part of our lines of inquiry.”

Following the attacks on the women in the city, both Abertay University and Dundee University have issued advice to their students at the request of Police Scotland.

A Dundee University spokesman said: “We’re advising a range of options to get students home safely be it from the library or nights out.

“For example there’s a free night bus available and the university also has an agreement with a local taxi firm where if students are out of money they can still get a taxi home by showing their matriculation cards and settling the bill the next day at the student union.

“We’re also advising students not to walk home alone and don’t wear headphones whilst out walking.”

An Abertay University spokesman said: “I can confirm we have issued safety advice to students and are continuing to liaise with Police Scotland. For all other inquiries contact Police Scotland.”