Second Assault In Area Against Joggers

Police are investigating an assault yesterday (21st of March) on a woman who was jogging in Belper.

The incident happened between 8.30pm and 8.45pm on Tuesday, March 21, a woman was jogging along Whitemoor Lane, past the wooden bus shelter near the junction of Walcote Close, when 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 the police are asking drivers or pedestrians who saw anything suspicious to call them with information.

It comes as Derbyshire Constabulary are still in the midst of investigating a similar assault on a woman who was jogging along the canal path towards Ambergate from Whatstandwell on Wednesday, March 15th.

They 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.

Derbyshire Constabulary give 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 their website www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.

You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.