IT'S over a week since the rape of a 32-year-old woman as she made her way home from shops in Darwen, here Chief Reporter Jamie Diffley seeks to retrace the victim's steps and looks again at the vital clues.
Police have carried out door-to-door inquiries of the area and, with the release of video stills from CCTV footage taken in the vicinity of the attack at around the relevant time, have identified witnesses they believe could be the key in the drive to snare the rapist.
Chief Reporter Jamie Diffley seeks to retrace the victim's steps and looks again at the vital clues.
9.25pm: The woman visits Lynwood Wines, in Blackburn Road, where she buys Surf washing powder -- which has not been found.
Store owner, Habib Khan, who has run the shop for five years, later describes the shock when he learns of the incident.
He said: "It's terrible that something like this could happen in this area. It makes me worried about my own family."
9.30pm: Walking home from the store, the victim hears someone in an apparently distressed state in Sandringham Road.
She is then enticed onto waste ground and attacked.
9.34pm: A white van is captured on CCTV footage turning up Hollins Road, from Blackburn Road, some 50 yards from the crime scene.
Police said the driver stops on Blackburn Road, possibly to make deliveries, before driving off 10 minutes later.
Acting Det Insp Jim Elston said the driver could have seen something -- or someone -- which could prove vital.
9.35pm: Moments after the van parks up the same CCTV footage captures the image of a man running down Hollins Road in the opposite direction of Sandringham Road.
Mr Elston calls the video stills "significant" and urges the man -- or anybody that knows him -- to come forward.
He said there could be a "perfectly innocent explanation" for the man being in the vicinity of the crime at that time but said it was vital he came forward to eliminate himself from the inquiries.
Mr Elston said: "We have had a great response from the public and would like to make further calls for appeal.
"The box of washing powder may probably have been taken home without realising the significance -- which is perfectly understandable -- but we would still like it to be handed in."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article