A HITCHHIKER trying to get back to her home town was raped by a man who stopped to pick her up.

James Hore

A HITCHHIKER trying to get back to her home town was raped by a man who stopped to pick her up.

The woman, in her 20s, was hitchhiking in Pitsea, south Essex, in an attempt to get back to Witham.

The driver of what is thought to be a red Vauxhall car stopped to collect her at 9.30pm on Saturday before sexually assaulting her in the vehicle.

The man then told her to 'get out' and she returned to her boyfriend's house close to where the attack is said to have happened.

Det Sgt Danny Walker said: “This woman had been walking along Rectory Road and then London Road when this car pulled up.

“She was then attacked opposite The Gun public house.

“We are looking to speak with anyone who had been walking past the old pub between 9pm and 10pm on Saturday evening.”

The attacker was white, mid 30s, slim, with brown spiky hair and was wearing rectangular glasses.

The woman has been recovering at her home.

Anyone with information about the attack should call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.