THE LEADER of a Chantry church said the congregation is today praying for the victim of a terrifying sex attack.

Carol Windsor, president of Horley Spiritualist Church, said “many prayers” are going out to the woman who was assaulted by a male intruder on Sunday night after he forced his way into her home in Robin Drive.

She said: “The victim of this terrible attack is sure to be extremely traumatised and scared after such an awful ordeal but the community is here for her and we are praying for her.”

Mrs Windsor works at the London Road church and lives less than 200 yards from where the assault happened. She said the atmosphere in Chantry is sombre after the incident.

“I was at Hawthorne Road shops today and people are scared because the man who did this is still out there,” she said.

“It is a terrible thing to happen so close to where you live but I won’t let someone like that scare me.”

She added: “There are many prayers going out to him too because a person who would attack someone else like that cannot be well.”

Richard Kirby, councillor for the Sprites ward, agreed Chantry residents have been shaken by the incident.

He said: “It has been a real shock for people, things like this don’t tend to happen in this area. I can understand how frightened residents must be.”

He added: “This person clearly took advantage of a vulnerable situation and it is very important he is caught as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, the detective inspector leading the investigation into the attack has said all information submitted by the public will be investigated until police capture the perpetrator.

Insp Stuart Sowerby urged residents to get in touch with any details they have relating to the crime.

“Come forward with any information you might have,” he said in an interview with BBC Radio Suffolk. “You might think it isn’t important but we will investigate every piece of information.”

He added: “It might just be the missing link we’re after.”