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Woman raped at knifepoint in Islington after stopping to give man change

Traumatised victim is a woman in her late 50s and the attacker has not yet been caught

Charlotte England
Monday 05 September 2016 13:19 BST
Heddingham Close, Islington, where the assault took place
Heddingham Close, Islington, where the assault took place (Google Maps)

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A woman has been raped at knifepoint after stopping to give a man change in Islington.

The woman, in her late 50s, was approached by the man while walking in Wontner Close near Essex Road in the north London borough on Thursday night.

The man asked for money and the woman gave him the coins she had, police said in a statement.

The man then grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her into Heddington Close, where he threatened her with a knife and raped her.

The attacker emptied the woman's handbag onto the ground and took her valuables, before walking off towards Popham Road.

A police statement said the attack took place between 11.30pm Thursday and 12.20am on Friday.

No arrests have been made and police are appealing for information.

The suspect is described as a “dark-skinned black man, between five feet four inches and five feet six inches, of medium build wearing dark clothing - either black or dark blue”.

He is believed to be aged between 30 and 40.

The woman was taken to a specialist care unit after reporting the attack, but is said to be traumatised.

Detective Constable Sarah Hunter from the Met Police’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said, “This was a horrific attack on a woman who had stopped to help a stranger when he asked her for some change.

“My team are keen to hear from anyone who has information that can assist the investigation," she added.

"This was a callous attack which has left the victim very traumatised.”

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