CCTV Of Rape Suspect Carrying Woman On Street

A suspected rapist has been caught on CCTV carrying a woman across a Birmingham street, minutes before she was attacked.

The footage - just released by police - shows the man taking the near-unconscious victim in his arms across a road in the centre of the city.

Police have said they also want to trace a man with dwarfism - and thought to be called Kevin - who was with the woman shortly before she was carried off.

'Kevin', who is being treated purely as a witness, is believed to have left the Walkabout bar in Broad Street with the 25-year-old woman at about 4am on Sunday 19 October.

Police said the pair walked along Broad Street towards Granville Street when, near to Sainsbury's, a man spoke to 'Kevin'.

The man then scooped the woman into his arms, before leaving 'Kevin' alone.

The CCTV footage - released with the woman's consent - shows the man carrying her across Tennant Street.

The crime was reported to officers a short time later when a member of the public found the woman highly distressed.

Detective Constable Danette Calvey, from West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: "There will undoubtedly be people who will watch these images and wrongly judge the woman.

"It must be remembered that this woman has been attacked and that she has displayed remarkable courage by allowing us to release the footage.

"She hopes that these new images may jog someone's memory and that their call may make the difference to her attacker being caught or left to roam the streets.

"I implore people to take a good look at the CCTV and focus on the man."

Police said the offender is "known to be a black man", while 'Kevin' is believed to be white, in his 20s, with short dark hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.