A RAPE victim has spoken of the sickening town centre attack that has left her too frightened to leave home by herself.

The 24-year-old woman was approached in College Street at about 3.30am on Monday, September 14, by a man who led her to an area behind Superdrug, near The Parade, and raped her.

Six weeks on from the assault the woman, called Michelle by police, bravely spoke to the Adver in a bid to track down her attacker.

“I was a different person before this, I was always the person who would be sociable and talk to strangers, I was confident and now I’m scared to go out and I always need someone with me,” she said.

“I just didn’t think this would happen to me, it was something that only ever happened to other people.

“I can’t go out by myself now, I can’t go to work. I hope I won’t always feel like this. It’s something that’s with me all the time.”

Michelle was on a regular night out with friends when the assailant struck.

“I had travelled that route before so many times, it was familiar and it was a longer way around, which I thought would be safer. It’s well-lit and there are always plenty of people around so I thought I would be safe,” she said.

Following the attack police believe that the man ran through the town centre towards Regent Street and into the Broadgreen area.

He is described as Asian, in his late 20s to early 30s, about 5ft 5ins and of medium build. He had a distinctive mark, either a deep wrinkle or scar, above his left eye and wore an unusual short-sleeved lime green T-shirt with the word Sport written across it.

Shortly after the assault, two suspects were arrested but later released without charge. 

Wiltshire Police believe the rapist is a resident of the Broadgreen area and used the area as an entry and exit point to the town centre.

Michelle said her support network has kept her going as she attempts to move on from the experience.

“Luckily I have friends and family, and if I text them at 3am in the morning I know they will be there for me. 

“My husband is always there for me,” she said.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. 

“I just want to get back to normal and feel like myself again.”

Michelle hopes the appeal will protect other woman and encourage the suspect to hand himself in to police.

“I don’t want this to happen to anybody else, I want people to be safe,” she said.

“If family or friends or anyone knows him, even if it’s just a suspicion contact the police. 

“There is DNA evidence so they will be able to eliminate this person from their inquiries, please call.”
Senior investigating officer DI Marj Macallum praised Michelle’s courage in speaking out.

“Michelle has been incredibly brave to come forward today and we thank her for doing so. It is only a matter of time before we catch this man,” she said.

And she fired a warning to the offender.

“We will find you,” she said. “So I would ask that you give yourself up to the nearest police station and let them know you are responsible for this rape.”

Wiltshire Police officers leafleted the Broadgreen area and spoke to residents and business owners yesterday in the hopes of finding vital new information.

Anyone with information about the attack should contact Swindon CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.