IPSWICH: Three weeks after a teenage girl was subjected to an horrific rape in broad daylight, detectives are urging people to rack their brains for clues that may help snare the culprit.

In a few seconds on one of Ipswich’s busiest roads the 17-year-old girl was kidnapped before being driven to an area of woodland and raped.

On Friday, July 9 the teenager was walking along Landseer Road after being out with friends.

As she neared Johnstone’s Paint a dark blue car pulled up alongside her and the male driver forced her inside.

She was driven to an area of woodland off Holy Wells Road and raped after the kidnap at around 7pm.

Police officers investigating the case believe the car was travelling down Landseer Road towards town before turning around in one of the industrial estates along the road and driving back up the road, pulling up behind the victim before bundling her into the car.

The man took his victim into nearby woodlands, off Holy Wells Road close to Holywells Park, where he raped her.

The teenager managed to break free and ran off towards Cliff Lane and Oulton Road, where she flagged down a member of the public who called police.

Detective chief inspector Neil Luckett, of Suffolk Constabulary’s major investigation team, which is leading the inquiry, urged people who were in the area to think back to the evening in question.

He said: “Because it was 7pm in broad daylight we believe someone may have seen the incident at its inception.

“Three weeks on we are appealing for motorists or anyone else in the area to rack their brains to see if they can help.”

He said the victim is traumatised but coping well and receiving specialist support from a trained officer.

Nigel Pickover, editor of the Evening Star said he would not rest in his mission to help police track down the man responsible.

“Together with the police, The Evening Star is determined to feature this horrific case at every opportunity until this monster is taken off our streets,” he said.

“Any little piece of information may help Neil Luckett and his team to catch this man.

“So call them with even the slightest details.”

n Anyone with any information should contact the major investigation team at Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.