Man charged with rape of teenage girl in Sudbury
A 28-year-old man has been charged with the rape of a teenage girl in Sudbury.
The 18-year-old victim was raped in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday last month.
Marian Pavel, from Cavendish Way, Sudbury, has been charged with rape and sexual assault.
He appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing.
The victim was attacked near First Avenue and Second Avenue on Monday, May 28, at approximately 3.30am.
The woman had been walking from the town centre via Waldingfield Field, before she turned left on to a cycle path, adjacent to the bus stop directly opposite Wheelers Close, and headed towards Acton Lane.
As she approached an area of grassland between First Avenue and Second Avenue, she heard footsteps behind her and was grabbed by a man, who subsequently raped her.
The victim managed to scream out which attracted the attention of two women who came to her aid, causing the attacker to run off in the direction of Waldingfield Road.
Police officers conducted a series of checks in the town at the weekend, six days after the incident, between 2am and 6am, in East Street, Waldingfield, First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Businesses and home-owners in possession of CCTV, dash cameras or mobile phone footage, near to the scene of the incident, are asked to come forward to assist police with the investigation.
During a press conference last week, Detective Superintendent Marina Ericson, from Suffolk Constabulary’s major investigation team, explained that they were still gathering footage.
“We’re still scoping through CCTV and collecting a lot of footage, and as you can imagine with both private and commercial, and the local authority - there’s a lot to get through,” she said.
“We’re still in the process of getting all of that so we still want to appeal for people who have CCTV, especially along Waldingfield Road and near the area.”
Det Supt Ericson has praised two women who assisted the victim following the incident.
“They are significant witnesses because we believe these two young ladies disturbed the event,” she said.
“They heard our victim crying for help, shouting and screaming; and we know that immediately as they started to come over, the male suspect ran off.
“They stayed with our victim. They’ve been incredibly helpful to the inquiry. They’ve given us statements and information, as have a lot of the community here.”
Specially trained officers supported the victim following the incident.
Det Supt Ericson has reminded people to avoid walking alone in the early hours of the morning; to plan journeys by walking in groups; arrange lifts with friends, or use taxis.
Anyone who has information that could assist detectives with the investigation should contact Suffolk Police’s Major Investigation Team on 101 quoting reference 29056/18.
Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111.
