Police Appeal For Public's Help After Defford Assault

Police are appealing to people who use a popular dog-walking route in Defford, near Pershore, for information following an incident in the area.

The move comes after a woman was assaulted by a man while out jogging in the area on Tuesday (July 20).

The incident took place at around 8.30pm in a wooded area known locally as ‘Bluebell Woods'. The woman, in her late 30s, received non-life-threatening injuries.

Det Sgt Christopher Percival said: "This appears to be a serious incident in which a woman was assaulted while out jogging and left extremely shocked and shaken.

"Although rural, the route on which the incident took place is a well-trodden dog-walking route, also popular with joggers, and known as ‘Bluebell Woods'. It is near to a larger wooded area known as Porters Ashbed.

"We are appealing for anyone in the Defford village area, or anyone who uses the route, to contact police urgently if they have seen or suspected anything unusual while out walking or jogging, not only on the 20 but over the past few weeks."

Officers remain in the area at the scene and are making house to house enquiries. Anniversary checks took place last night (Wednesday) and will continue for the next seven days.

Det Sgt Percival added: "Officers continue to establish a motive for the assault. We would like to reassure people living in the area that a full investigation has been launched and police officers remain in the area."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0300 333 3000, quoting 707-s-200710, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Issued: Thursday 22 July 2010