Mum raped after being forced into car with toddler

A mum was raped after she was forced into a car with her toddler in Redcar.
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Police are hunting two men after the terrifying incident, which took place on Friday.

The woman was with her child on the seafront, close to the boating lake, when a dark-coloured saloon vehicle drove along the ramp towards them, according to police.

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Between 11.30am and 12.30pm, two men got out of the vehicle and forced the woman and child into the rear of the car, before it made its way down Turner Street to Yearby, on Longbeck Lane, off the A174.

Police say the woman was then raped. The child was unharmed.

Between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, the victim and her child were forced out of the vehicle on Kirkleatham Lane, between the turn off for Kirkleatham Museum and the bus stop towards Redcar, police added.

They ran across the road and towards the wooded area.

The first suspect, who was driving the vehicle, is described as a white male, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, around 5ft 7in to 5ft 10in tall, with short, brown hair, of large build with the word 'love' tattooed across his knuckles.

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The second suspect, the passenger in the car, is described as a white male, aged in his early 20s, around 5ft 5in to 5ft 6in tall, of medium build, clean shaven and with brown hair. He had a local accent.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy-King, of Cleveland Police, said: “This has been a very traumatic ordeal for the victim and her child.

"Thankfully, incidents of this nature are rare and this is an isolated incident.

“There are a team of detectives working on this investigation and we have increased patrols in the local area.

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"Although we are investigating that the attackers may have known the victim, as a precaution, I would encourage anyone in the local area to be extra vigilant.

“Neighbourhood officers are patrolling the area of Redcar seafront and anyone who may have information is urged to speak to an officer, or to call Cleveland Police or Crimestoppers.”

Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have seen two men in a dark saloon in the area around the time of the incident on the seafront on Friday, or anyone who may have seen the men or the vehicle in Yearby the same day.

They also appeal to any witnesses who may have seen a woman and child in a distressed state in the area of Kirkleatham Lane on Friday evening.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.