Police investigate assault on jogger in Belper

The incident occurred sometime between 8.30pm and 8.45pm last night (Tuesday) when the woman was jogging along Whitemoor Lane, past the wooden bus shelter near the junction of Walcote Close and a man stepped out and forced her into a nearby alleyway where he assaulted her.

She did not get a good look at the man. Officers were sent to the scene to search the area but did not find anyone suspicious.

Whitemoor Lane is a busy road and police are asking drivers or pedestrians who saw anything suspicious to call them with information.

Officers are investigating whether this crime is linked to a sexual assault on a woman who was jogging along the canal path towards Ambergate from Whatstandwell on Wednesday, March 15.

Police are arranging the distribution of attack alarms to running clubs in the area and officers will make contact with the groups when these are available.

They are also offering the following safety advice to female runners:

* Choose well-lit, busy routes for your run. Don’t run in isolated or rural areas

* Consider running with a friend or join a running club where you can run as a group

* Be aware of your surroundings, look ahead at the path you’re taking and don’t run with headphones in

Anyone with information about the Belper assault should call DC Ross O’Brien, quoting reference 918 of March 21. To pass on information about the Cromford incident, call DC Paul Flint quoting reference 17000110368.

You can contact either officer online by visiting the Contact Us section of the website www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.