Lone female drivers warned after Rottingdean attack

UPDATE: Sussex Police have reported that this incident did not in fact take place. Read more here.

Female drivers have been warned to be cautious while driving alone after a women escaped from an apparent abduction attempt in Rottingdean, East Sussex.

The 21-year-old woman from Peacehaven was forced by a man to drive her car to a secluded lane in Rottingdean where the attacker allegedly attempted to strangle her before she escaped across fields on Tuesday evening (March 23).

Her horrific ordeal began between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday when the attacker jumped into her car after she had dropped off a friend near the Saltdean Foodstore in Lustrells Vale and was waiting with her engine running.

She was forced to drive to Whiteway Lane, a single lane dirt track road in Rottingdean, where she tried to run. The man grabbed her and allegedly tried to strangle her, but she managed to escape and ran to a house in Dean Court Road, from where she called police.

The attacker has described the man, who may have run off in the direction of Grand Crescent or Dean Court, as white, in his 30s with a black jacket, gloves and a distinctive black hat, which the victim described as like a swimming hat.

Sussex DI Lee Horner said: “It is extremely important that drivers, particularly women who are out driving late at night on their own, are vigilant. Always keep your car doors locked and your windows up at all times, as this will provide an immediate deterrent.

“Incidents like this are rare. This woman was clearly very frightened to be confronted by this man who was extremely violent. He is clearly dangerous and we urgently need to trace him.”

If anyone can help police with their investigations please contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Farland or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on March 24, 2010. Filed under Brighton and Hove News,Rottingdean. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry