Police hunt 'chubby faced, droopy eyed man' after rape in park 'popular with joggers and young mums'

They said that officers from their Rape Crime Unit are investigating following the incident in the Peatlands Park area of Dungannon yesterday afternoon.

The woman was walking her dog at around 2.45pm when she was set upon by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her and then fled the scene on a black mountain bike.

Police said he is approximately 6’ tall, aged in his 20’s, clean shaven, with a chubby face, and droopy eyes.  He was wearing all black clothing, a high visibility jacket and a cycling helmet.

Sinn Fein councillor Dominic Molloy said he believed a woman had been raped on an isolated path in the park.

"I don't live very far away from the park and my family would use it," he said. "Joggers and dog walkers would always be coming and going from it.

"It's a very quiet rural area and it's taken a lot of local people aback that something like this could happen."

He added: "It's very shocking, particularly because a lot of young mothers would use the park. I would appeal to people to be vigilant and not to be walking or running on their own.

"I don't want to scare people, but they do need to be vigilant."

Detective Inspector Lynne Knox said: “This was an appalling attack and police are pursuing all investigative lines of enquiry and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this assault or observed anything suspicious to contact Detectives at the Rape Crime Unit on the non-emergency number 101."

"Alternatively, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”