Girl, 15, raped in car after being picked up by stranger who offered her lift home

A 15-year-old girl was raped in a car by a stranger as she tried to get home from a city centre around 2am on Sunday morning.

The teenager told Northumbria Police officers she had been travelling into Monument Metro Station in Newcastle as she attempted to make her way home in the early hours of Sunday, May 23.

She spoke to a number of members of the public and walked with them towards the Haymarket in a bid to find her way back to her address in Cowgate, ChronicleLive reports.

The girl told officers that between 1.15am and 2am she was approached by a man in a dark car near the Haymarket who offered to give her a lift.

The girl accepted the offer and the car drove towards Cowgate – but the driver parked on a street in Blakelaw and raped her in the back seat.

He then dropped her off at her home address and left the area in the vehicle. The victim then reported the incident to police.

An investigation to identify the suspect is still ongoing and specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department are supporting the teenager and her family.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone who may have spoken to the 15-year-old girl in the early hours of Sunday morning to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Tanya Robinson said: “An investigation into this incident is well underway and we are continuing to offer the teenager all the support she needs.

“There are a number of active lines of enquiry but we are still trying to identify some of the people the victim who may have spoken to her before being picked up by the suspect.

“In particular we are keen to trace two women with Irish accents who walked with the teenager towards Haymarket in a bid to try and help her return home.

“We also would be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a lone teenage girl get into a black or dark vehicle near to the Haymarket between 1.15am and 2am on Sunday morning.

“There is already a highly visible policing presence in the city centre since the re-opening of our nighttime economy and if anyone has any concerns we would ask you to approach our officers.”

Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to contact officers through the Northumbria Police website, or by calling 101, and quoting log 153 23/05/21.

If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 0845 30 30 900 or visit their website, www.victimsupport.org.uk.