Woman raped then assaulted by four men in car she thought was a taxi

Greater Manchester Police is appealing for a good Samaritan who came to the aid of a woman who had endured an horrific night involving being raped and then abused in a separate incident by four men in a car. Police received reports of the sex attack, which happened at a home in Ropemaker Court in Moss Side in south Manchester, at around 9am on Friday (15 July).

The victim had left a nightclub in Princess Street in Manchester city centre in the early hours of Friday morning and, some time later, was raped. At around 5am, after she had left the scene of the rape, the woman got into a white Audi – possibly an Audi Q7 – that she thought was a taxi.

But once inside she was verbally and physically abused by four men before she was thrown out of the vehicle on to a dual carriageway around 7am.

A man in a light-coloured van stopped and helped the woman before he took her to Piccadilly bus station. Police are now appealing for the man to come forward to help with the investigation.

Detective Inspector Dave Moores of GMP's Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: "I'm appealing to the man who helped the woman in her time of need to come forward and help us with the investigation.

"He played an important part in the safety of the woman that morning. I'm also appealing to anyone who may have seen the woman being thrown from the car or a car of that description in the area at the time."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 1911 quoting 129084C/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.