Added on Thursday 24 May 2012

Police have launched an urgent appeal for information after a young woman was raped near Hillhead's Ashton Lane in the early hours of Saturday morning (May 19).

The 19-year-old victim was walking in Lilybank Gardens at around 2am when she was seized by a man who dragged her into a doorway and sexually assaulted her before running off towards Ashton Lane.

It's understood the woman was on her way back from a night out at the nearby Queen Margaret Union.

Women have been urged to be on the alert in the area, which is one of the West End's busiest late night bar spots, but police are working on the theory that the attack was an isolated and random incident.

The suspect is described as white and in his early to mid 20's, 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins with short light, possibly blond hair.

The man has a clear, pale complexion and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a black, full-fronted zipped hooded top and dark-coloured tracksuit or jogging bottoms.

Detective Inspector Alan Brown at Partick police office said: "This has been a very traumatic experience for this young woman and I would like to reassure the public that my officers are conducting extensive enquiries in the local area in an attempt to trace the person responsible for this attack as soon as possible.

"The area around Lilybank Gardens was particularly busy with people coming out of bars and clubs and I therefore would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the suspect hanging about either prior to the attack or perhaps running off afterwards."

Anyone with information is asked to contact West End CID at Partick on 0141 532 3500.

To give information anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.