A woman has been robbed and raped by a knifeman in a horrific daylight attack while walking through a south east London park.
The victim, aged in her 40s, was strolling through Sutcliffe Park in Kidbrooke when a man threatened her with a knife and raped her, police say.
After the ordeal, which took place just before 2.15pm on Wednesday, the rapist stole her handbag and fled.
Other people heard the woman's cries and ran to help, a bystander said.
Witness Abby Nicole, 19, was walking her dogs through the park with her boyfriend and friend when she heard the woman’s screams.
She told the Standard: “We heard a horrifying scream, one that didn't sound like someone playing around.
“All three of us knew something was wrong so we ran to where to where the scream had come from and saw a man running off and another man chasing after him."
“We then saw a woman sitting on the grass, crying her eyes out and went straight over to her," she said.
“She then claimed she had been approached by a young black male who was carrying a knife and he proceeded to drag her into the bushes and then go onto rape her
“She said before he left he took all of her belongings including her bag money and phone.”
Police say the woman was taken to hospital and has since been discharged. She is being supported by specialist officers.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The suspect is described as a black male, aged in his early 20s.
“He was wearing dark clothing and carrying a JD Sports drawstring-style bag.
“The victim's handbag - described as white with long handles/straps - was also stolen.”
Detectives from the Met’s Sexual Offences Exploitation & Child Abuse Command are investigating.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information about the attack should contact police via 101, or by tweeting @MetCC.
To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
