A Sikh woman has been left traumatised after being subjected to a vicious sexual assault in a crime that police are treating as both a rape and a racially aggravated hate crime.
The attack occurred in the Oldbury area of the West Midlands on Tuesday, 5th December. The victim was walking along a canal path near to the Tat Bank Road area when she was ambushed by an unknown man.
The assailant unleashed a torrent of racist abuse during the horrifying ordeal, explicitly referencing the victim's faith and ethnicity. After the attack, the man fled the scene on foot, leaving the woman to seek help.
Police Appeal for Witnesses
Detectives from West Midlands Police have launched a major investigation and are urgently appealing to the public for information. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of the canal path off Tat Bank Road between 6 pm and 8 pm on the night of the attack.
Investigators believe the attacker may have been in the area beforehand and could have been acting suspiciously. They are also checking for any available CCTV or dashcam footage that could aid in identifying the suspect.
Community Support and Condemnation
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond. Authorities and community leaders have united in condemning the brutal nature of the attack, which combines sexual violence with racial hatred.
Specialist support officers are providing care to the victim as the investigation continues. Police are urging anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward immediately to assist in apprehending the perpetrator.
