Police in Leicester have issued an appeal following an incident where a woman was reportedly attacked and sexually assaulted near a service station. The assault took place on Baines Lane, a side road off the A47 Hinckley Road, close to the southbound M1 services in Leicester Forest East around 6:45 pm on April 25. The victim, a woman in her twenties, was assaulted while walking along Baines Lane towards Hinckley Road.
According to a statement from Leicestershire Police, the assailant pulled the woman to the ground and sexually assaulted her before fleeing towards the southbound services when she called for help. Authorities are conducting investigations in the area to identify the suspect, with specialized officers offering support to the victim.
The victim described the attacker as a white man in his fifties, slim build, with grey hair and a grey beard, wearing a black and white short-sleeved top. Police are urging anyone who may have seen a man matching this description to come forward with information.
Detective Inspector Jenny Tattersall stated, “Although Baines Lane is primarily an access road, it is known to be used by individuals heading towards the M1 southbound. We are appealing to anyone with dashcam footage from the services between 5 pm and 7 pm to contact us. Any piece of information, regardless of its perceived significance, could be crucial in our investigation.”
Members of the public can provide information by visiting the Leicestershire Police website and quoting reference 26*238050 or by calling 101.