Appeal after rape reported in city park

Police are appealing for witnesses after a rape was reported in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police said they were called to Central Forest Park in Hanley shortly after 12:00 BST on Wednesday, after a woman in her 20s reported that she had been raped.

The suspect left the area after it happened. They were described as having their face covered, wearing all black clothing and were approximately 6ft 2 inches tall.

Specialist officers are supporting the victim and a house-to-house trawl is ongoing alongside a CCTV review of the area.

Police are appealing for a male jogger, who ran past the victim and asked if she was okay, to contact them as they believe he could help with their inquiries.

The jogger was running in the direction of the car park between 11:30 and 11:50 BST as she was coming out of a shrubbed area.

In the same area and at about 09:05 BST on the same day, another woman was approached by a man in Central Forest Park, on the path near the ice-cream shop.

The woman was walking her dog when a man came from behind her and told her he wanted to stroke her dog, before walking off in the direction of Chell Street.

While there is no confirmation these incidents may be linked, the force said they were keeping an open mind.

The suspect in this incident was described as a white man, older in appearance, wearing a green wax jacket, grey shorts and blue Crocs.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We're keen to speak to anyone who may be able to help with our investigation who hasn't already spoken to officers, or anyone who was in the park during these times and saw anything suspicious."

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