Police have confirmed a lone woman was assaulted by a car driver as she walked along a road in Swindon this morning – less than a mile from missing Sian O’Callaghan’s home.
The incident, which happened at around 10am, saw a 20-year-old woman walking along Elmina Road in the Wiltshire town when she noticed a driver in a red van gesturing to her.
She continued on her way but a short time later a man – believed to be the driver – physically assaulted her.
Police described the victim as was very shaken up, but stressed the incident was not being linked at this stage to the disappearance of Sian, 22, on Saturday.
Det Insp Jim Taylor, from Wiltshire Police, said: ‘I’d like to appeal for anyone who can help identify the man described or who was in the area of Manchester Road at approximately 10am this morning to contact me.
”I would expect there to have been a number of vehicles and people in the area at that time who may be able to help with the investigation.
”Officers are carrying out enquiries in the area and I want to stress that whilst we always keep an open mind, having made the Senior Investigating Officer dealing with the disappearance of Sian O’Callaghan aware there is absolutely no reason at this stage to believe that this incident is in any way connected.”
The attacker is described as a white man, aged in his mid 50s, light grey hair and a gaunt face. The vehicle is described as a red car derived van which had some rusty patches.
Today another woman, aged in her 20s, told how she was approached by two men who tried to coax her into a car at 10.15pm on Saturday night.
Anyone with information is asked to contact DI Taylor on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
UPDATE (Weds 10.40am)
D/Supt Steve Fulcher: “With regards to the red vehicle associated with the assault on a young woman in Elmina Road yesterday, enquiries have been undertaken and I am content that it is not linked to the disappearance of Sian O’Callaghan.”
