'You're a coward!' Brave rape victim tells her attacker to hand himself in to police

A brave woman who was strangled and raped as she walked home has called on her attacker to give himself up – and branded him a coward.

The woman was walking home after a night out in Ilkeston, in the early hours of November 26 when she was grabbed from behind and dragged down an alley in a frightening attack.

Her attacker throttled her until she passed out before raping her.

The man then fled the scene, leaving the woman on the freezing ground.

Police have released a chilling e-fit of the sex fiend who wore a ski mask or black material to disguise himself when he pounced on his victim.

Derbyshire Police have released a video of the woman describing the horrific attack as detectives hunt the man who is wanted for attempted murder and rape.

In the interview, the victim, whose words are spoken by an actor to protect her identity, tells the rapist to hand himself in, telling him: ‘You’re a coward, deal with it.’

She said: ‘I was coming home on Queens Avenue, when I glimpsed around I saw someone over my shoulder, I didn’t think anything of it.

‘That’s when he started to grab at my clothes, he strangled me until I passed out and when I came round he was raping me.

‘He strangled me again, and I passed out again and when came around I was on my own on the floor.

‘It was really cold, I had grazes all over me and I had a bang on my head, and I was in a lot of pain.

‘I tried to get my phone but I couldn’t see properly, so I shouted for help, I don’t know how long I was shouting for but a lady came and she rang the police.’

Addressing the rapist directly, she said: ‘You’re a coward and just come forward and deal with it, if you think it’s your brother, your partner, a neighbour, a family member, someone you go to the pub with or someone you see walking their kids to school, just come forward and it might help.

‘Even if you think it’s a relative, a friend, someone you don’t think would do something like that, just come forward.

‘I don’t want this happening this to anyone else, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, so if you think you know who it is, just come forward, as it could help someone else from being attacked that way.’

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The attacker is described as white, between 5ft 7-8ins tall and of medium build. He wore a grey tracksuit with the white drawstrings and hood worn up.

Police released the video and have posted an e-fit picture of the attacker to 40,000 homes in Ilkeston in a bid to catch the rapist.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Meadows, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘We are hoping that the release of the video and the leaflets which are being distributed to homes locally will prompt anyone with information to come forward.

‘We would like to speak to anyone that has information, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

‘This was a brutal attack on a woman which has left her unable to enjoy this festive period with her family.’