Schoolgirl rape and armed attacks on towpaths

FOLLOWING hard on the heels of the news of a man severely beaten and thrown in a canal and two teenagers found drowned in another, is the news of a young schoolgirl raped on a canal towpath and a armed gang attacking a man on another towpath.

It would seem that with the nights drawing in, the canal towpaths are amongst the most dangerous places to be, as all the attacks took place in the dark, Alan Tilbury reports.

15 years old

A 15 years old schoolgirl was  raped on the Grand Union Canal towpath in Slough at around 9pm on Sunday evening as she was walking alone.

She was attacked by a man, described by the police as black, aged around 19 of large build. Neighbourhood officers have increased their presence on and around the towpath in an attempt to reassure residents.

Armed men

A gang of armed men have been stalking along the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal in Chester, and have attacked a man who was walking along the towpath, again in the dark at around 8pm.

The man suffered a serious assault that left him with cuts to his face and body, and needing hospital treatment.  The men wore dark clothing and had their faces covered.

Past advice given by the police to keep away from canal towpaths in the dark would seem to be very sensible, as by their very nature they are usually ill lit, if at all, and not well frequented.