Urgent hunt for man after woman in her 20s ‘raped by stranger on night out in city centre’

Police have launched an urgent investigation after a woman said she was raped on her way home in a city centre after a night out.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the attack allegedly happened between 3.30am and 4.30am on 30 October in Bristol as a woman in her 20s made her way home alone after a night at a bar in Bristol.

She was approached by a stranger in Denmark Street near to the bar and then raped, police said.

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The force said enquiries showed that a number of people passed by as the attack happened, both on foot and in vehicles, and urged anyone who was in Denmark Street around that time to get in touch, including drivers with dashcam footage or people with mobile phone footage from that area at that time.

Police also released an image of a man they want to speak to as part of the investigation, who was seen in the area at the time. He is described as being in his late 20s or early 30s and about 5ft 7ins tall.

Detective Sergeant Toby Hayes, from Operation Bluestone, the force's dedicated team of specialist rape and serious sexual offence investigators, said: "We’ve referred the woman to specialist support and are carrying out a thorough investigation while being sensitive to the trauma of her experience.

"This appeal is just one of our lines of enquiry but I would urge anyone who was on Denmark Street between 3.30 and 4.30am to come forward. You might not realise it but you could have the key piece of information we need."