Third lone woman assaulted at Ilfracombe’s Slade Valley in 18 months

An appeal has gone out for witnesses and CCTV footage after a woman was assaulted in Ilfracombe’s Slade Valley as she walked home late at night – the third such assault in that area in 18 months.

Police have said they are ‘keeping an open mind’ on whether the three attacks on lone women at Slade are linked.

Most recently, the victim reported being grabbed from behind by a man as she made her way home from the town centre in the early hours of Sunday, April 20.

She was walking on Slade Road between 1.10am to 1.20am when she was approached by the man in the alleyway that cuts through to Slade Valley Road.

The woman managed to get free and the suspect ran off towards Slade Road.

Police said the incident follows two similar assaults on women in the same area of the town last year. The first happened in Station Road in February and the second occurred in August in the same alleyway through to Slade Valley Road.

Detective Inspector Neil Lloyd said: “We are aware of three incidents of a similar nature during the last 18 months and while we cannot definitively link them, we are keeping an open mind.

“The investigation into the latest assault continues at a pace and we are appealing to the public for their help. We are asking for people in the Slade Valley Road area to check their CCTV and doorbell cameras or dashcams for any footage which may have captured the incident or the suspect.”

Sector Inspector Rich Preston said: “Local officers are also conducting additional late evening patrols in the area and we would encourage anyone who may have concerns to speak with them.”

If anyone has any information or footage to assist our enquiries please contact police online or call 101, quoting crime reference 50250097456.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers via www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555111.