Overview

• The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 28 September, in the churchyard of St Mary's Church and nearby town-centre areas of Banbury, Oxfordshire.
• Police have launched a major inquiry with a cordon in place for forensic examinations, alongside house-to-house visits and reviews of CCTV and dashcam footage.
• Investigators issued a targeted appeal to identify the unnamed ‘Good Samaritan’, noting they do not yet have a description of her.
• Anyone in the town centre between about 12am and 2:30am is urged to check recordings and submit evidence via a dedicated webpage or by calling 101, quoting reference 43250495078, with Crimestoppers available for anonymous reports.
• The victim, a woman in her 30s, is receiving support from specially trained officers, no suspect descriptions have been released, and St Mary's cancelled services as local leaders voiced shock.