A RAPIST who abducted his victim from a busy supermarket car park subjected her to a terrifying two- hour attack in an isolated caravan, police have revealed.

Will Clarke

A RAPIST who abducted his victim from a busy supermarket car park subjected her to a terrifying two- hour attack in an isolated caravan, police have revealed.

The sex attacker asked his young victim to help him load some bags into his car at the Tesco supermarket in Brandon before he turned on her.

Detectives said the brutal abductor threatened to kill his victim but refused to confirm local speculation that he snatched her at knifepoint or whether he used ropes or gags during the ordeal, which ended when she was dumped at an isolated industrial estate around three hours after she was kidnapped.

Det Ch Insp David Cutler, who is leading the investigation, described the 21-year-old Good Samaritan as “brave” for coming forward and reliving her harrowing experience under police questioning.

He said: “The victim has given us a lot of detail and that is a great start for us. She has under gone a very traumatic offence, we have been supporting her and we will continue to do so. If necessary we will speak to her again.

“The attacker seemed to remain calm during their journey and as he made threats to her. She was held in a position in the car where she couldn't see out. She feared for her life and did as she was told. She talks about being taken out of town for 20 minutes before being taken up an uneven track - she could feel it through the wheels.

“She was then taken to a prefabricated building or caravan, which was furnished with a kitchen area where she was subjected to a sexual assault before being returned to Brandon.”

DCI Cutler pledged he and his team of around 20 officers would be searching the Brandon area for similar prefabricated buildings or caravans as well as trawling through CCTV footage.

But he also stressed the importance of witnesses: “We need to hear from anyone who was shopping at Tesco in Brandon, or anyone who was in or near the car park on London Road, between midday and 3pm on Saturday. If you saw or heard anything out of the ordinary, or a man asking for help or struggling with bags, please contact us as a matter of urgency.

“We also want to hear from anyone who may have seen the distressed woman, walking between Wimbledon Avenue and Manor Road, where she was able to raise the alarm, between 4.45pm and 5.30pm. She passed a number of people in the street and those people may be able to help us with our inquiries.

“The vehicle, and offender, are quite distinctive - if anyone has information I would urge them to call us immediately. We are also trying to establish where the victim was taken - it is described as about a 20- minute drive from Brandon, and consisted of a small isolated premises approached through a gate and then along a track. If this location sounds familiar please get in touch.

“During her ordeal the female was aware of gunshots somewhere close by - police would like to hear from anybody who would have been out shooting on Saturday afternoon.”

A police spokeswoman said the victim was in the car park on London Road at around 2.15pm when she went to help the attacker.

She said: “The rapist was white, in his late 50s or early 60s, around 5 ft 3 in tall, of medium build with a pot belly. He had bushy white/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 was 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 Tesco's car park when the female arrived to go shopping.”

Forest Heath District Commander, Ch Insp Michael Holdsworth, said a high visibility police presence would continue in the area: “This type of crime is extremely rare in Brandon and indeed Suffolk as a whole.

“Additional officers will be on patrol in the town to provide help and reassurance, and anyone with any information or concerns about this incident are encouraged to speak to them.”

Police are appealing for anyone with any information to call the incident room on 01473 613824.