Officers hunt sex attacker

Police are hunting for this sex attacker

Police have released details of a sex attack in Staffordshire.

Detectives revealed that a woman was ordered into an alleyway at knifepoint and raped in Tamworth.

The victim, who is aged in her 30s, was raped during the five-minute ordeal in the Amington area at about 1800 GMT on 21 January, Staffordshire Police said on Wednesday.

The attack was initially treated as a serious indecent assault, but is now being investigated as rape after the victim gave officers further details.

More horrific

Detective Constable Ian Fitzgerald, of Tamworth CID, said: "This was a very serious sexual assault which has left the victim traumatised.

"There is no doubt that had she not had the presence of mind and courage to confront this man, the incident could have been even more horrific.

"Specially-trained officers are working with the victim to help her through the ordeal and gather as much evidence as possible."

Alcohol smell

The rapist is described as white, in his late teens or early 20s and spoke with a Birmingham accent.

He is thought to be about 5ft 8ins, of medium build and was wearing a woolly hat under the fur-trimmed hood of a dark knee-length coat, and jeans.

The man, who struck in an alleyway near a Co-op store in Tamworth Road, also smelled of alcohol.