A RAPIST and kidnapper who snatched his victim from a busy supermarket car park threatened her with a knife during the terrifying two hour ordeal.

Will Clarke

A RAPIST and kidnapper who snatched his victim from a busy supermarket car park threatened her with a knife during the terrifying two hour ordeal.

Further details have emerged following the abduction and rape of the 21-year-old woman from the Tesco car park in Brandon on Saturday June 14.

Officers working on the case say they have been heartened by the response from potential witnesses and those with information on the caravan where the victim was seriously sexually assaulted.

The victim was in the car park on London Road at around 2.15pm on Saturday, when she was called over by a man asking for help with heavy bags.

She helped him load a blue holdall into a 4x4 vehicle but at this point she was threatened with the knife and forced to lie down inside.

The man - thought to be in his late 50s or 60s - then drove her to a hut or caravan about 20 minutes away, where he subjected her to the horrifying sexual assault, before dumping her on Wimbledon Avenue in Brandon later that afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector David Cutler, who is leading the investigation, said this afternoon: “I am pleased with the response from the public so far, we have received around 35 calls and e-mails regarding this incident and people in Brandon have also been visiting the police station and speaking to local officers.

“The additional officers on patrol in the town centre are there to provide reassurance and advice, as well as to speak to anyone who may have any information.

“This offence has shocked the local community and we, along with our partners, will be providing the support and help that they may need over the coming weeks.

“The offender used a knife to force the victim to do as he ordered; out of fear she complied and lay on the floor of the car throughout both journeys.

“It is vital that anyone with any information about him, or the isolated, flimsy, small building he took her to contact police immediately.

“Officers from Suffolk's Major Investigation Team continue to work on a number of lines of enquiry.

“CCTV throughout the town is being identified and viewed, as we try to establish where the car entered the town to go to Tesco, its route out to the building and its return journey, and where it went after leaving the victim in Wimbledon Avenue.

“The car is very distinctive, and anyone who recognises it or may have seen it in Brandon, or within a 20 minute radius of the town on Saturday, is urged to call.

“Along with local officers who have a good knowledge of the area around Brandon, the Air Support Team is also assisting our search for the building the victim was taken to.

“It is approached along a track which at one point is gated. It is also near to where shooting was taking place on Saturday afternoon. If this location sounds familiar please get in touch.”

The offender is described as white around 5 ft 3 ins tall, of medium build with a pot belly.

He has bushy white or grey sideburns, with heavy grey facial hair and a ruddy complexion. He was wearing a red woolly hat, a red fleece, black tracksuit bottoms, trainers and glasses. He was generally dirty and smoked roll ups.

The car is described as a dirty, older style dark grey 4x4 with front seats only, a row of four blue spotlights on a bull bar at the front, and a rear door rather than a boot. It is believed the car was in the Tesco car park when the victim arrived to go shopping.

An incident room has been set up and anyone with any information which may assist the inquiry should call 01473 613824.

Calls can also be made to Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.