Rape in Leigh Park leaves residents ‘shocked’ - and demanding more police and better street lighting for ‘lawless’ area

RESIDENTS have called for more police on patrol as a rape next to a children’s play area in Leigh Park becomes the latest ‘horrible’ crime to strike the area.
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Officers were called following the rape of a 20-year-old woman on a footpath connecting Middle Park Way and Chalton Crescent, with the assault happening between midnight and 6.40am today.

One resident reported hearing what sounded like banging in the early hours of the morning.

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Ann Cortopassi, who has lived in Chalton Crescent for more than 40 years, said: ‘At 4am we heard some sort of banging.

Police at a playground between Chalton Crescent and Middle Park Way in Leigh Park after a 20-year-old woman was raped today
Picture: Richard LemmerPolice at a playground between Chalton Crescent and Middle Park Way in Leigh Park after a 20-year-old woman was raped today
Picture: Richard Lemmer
Police at a playground between Chalton Crescent and Middle Park Way in Leigh Park after a 20-year-old woman was raped today Picture: Richard Lemmer

‘It sounded like someone was banging my on the house. I couldn’t see anything so I went back to bed.’

She added: ‘There’s been a lot of crime in the area recently.’

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Another resident agreed, saying the area feels ‘lawless’ with gangs of youths terrorising residents and two high-profile murders in the area this year.

The playground is taped off Picture: Richard LemmerThe playground is taped off Picture: Richard Lemmer
The playground is taped off Picture: Richard Lemmer
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Chalton Crescent resident Paul Madgwick, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years, said: ‘I don’t feel safe around here.

‘There’s loads of gangs terrorising people around Warren Park.

‘And there’s often groups of guys hanging around the play area late at night.

‘They keep us awake. This is really horrible - the poor girl.’

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Paul’s mother, Glennis, who is 72, said the area had ‘changed’.

She said: ‘It used to be lovely around here. When Paul was a young boy it was nice. It’s changed. We used to have a local policeman who knew all the people in the area. They need more police.

‘And it’s pitch black down (by the path).

‘I have said they need to put street lights down there. I wouldn’t go out in the dark on my own.’

Ann agreed: ‘It’s pitch black out here. You have got women finishing a night shift and walking back along the path. It isn’t safe.’

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Police spoke to Hayley Matthews, as her house overlooks the play area, but she had not seen or heard anything - and she agreed that more needed to be done to make the area feel safe for residents.

The 37-year-old said: ‘I wouldn’t walk around here late at night.

‘The street lights go off very early - I’d rather they stayed on.

‘It’s pointless having the street lights here

‘And you don’t see the police around here very often.’

She added: ‘I was quite shocked to see (the play area) cordoned off this morning. It raised a lot of worry and panic.

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‘We’ve had a lot of crime recently - the Louise Smith killing sent shock waves through the whole community.’

Anyone with information regarding the incident near Chalton Crescent should call 101, quoting the reference number 44200450570.