West Midlands Police have released shocking footage of a suspected rapist carrying an unconscious victim across a road minutes before she was attacked in Tennant Street, Birmingham.

The 25-year-old woman had been at the Walkabout Bar on Broad Street on Sunday 19 October before she left the premises at approximately 4am with a man believed to have dwarfism and known only as Kevin.

The pair walked along Broad Street towards Granville Street when, near to Sainsbury's, a man spoke to Kevin and scooped the woman into his arms, before leaving Kevin alone. As part of the investigation police have also released an image of Kevin.

CCTV – released with the woman's consent – shows the man carrying her across Tennant Street. Minutes later she was raped. The crime was reported to officers a short time later when a member of the public found the woman highly distressed. A police investigation was immediately launched.

Detective Constable Danette Calvey, from West Midlands Police's Public Protection Unit, said: "There will undoubtedly be people who will watch these images and wrongly judge the woman. It must be remembered that this woman has been attacked and that she has displayed remarkable courage by allowing us to release the footage.

"She hopes that these new images may jog someone's memory and that their call may make the difference to her attacker being caught or left to roam the streets. I implore people to take a good look at the CCTV and focus on the man.

"Do you recognise him? Were you in the area around the time of the attack? I appreciate it was a long time ago but the situation will have looked very odd and will undoubtedly have stayed with you. I would also appeal to the man in the footage to call me. Please, come forward now. This is your chance to explain."

Anyone with information which may help officers should call them on 101. Information can also be given anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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