FIND HIM

Sex attacker dragged teenager, 19, into Thames, forced her to take pill at knifepoint and tried to rape her

A TEENAGE girl was dragged into a river by a would-be rapist who forced her at knifepoint to take a mystery pill during a horrific sex attack.

The brave 19-year-old victim fought with her attacker, managing to drag him into the river with her during the shocking ordeal today.

The victim was ambushed by the man, believed to be in his late 30s, as she walked home through Tilehurst, near Reading, Berks.

Her attacker tried to rape her before she fled towards the banks of the River Thames, with the man in pursuit.

Detectives said that during the attack the man pulled out a knife and threatened to stab her as he pinned her down.

As he held the knife against her, the brutal man produced a mystery tablet and forced his victim to swallow it while threatening to stab her.

MYSTERY PILL

Police said it was not known whether the pill was a Rohypnol type of drug intended to make the girl fall unconscious so that the thug could rape her.

The sex attacker clambered out of the river and ran off, leaving his victim in the water.

She eventually managed to scramble out of the fast-swirling Thames and ran to her home where she raised the alarm with her mum.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said detectives were appealing for witnesses following the attempted rape and sexual assault this morning.

"The offender is described as a white man, aged in his late 30s and around 5ft 9ins tall," said the spokesman.

"He was wearing a black North Face Puffa jacket with the hood up, grey tracksuit bottoms and white trainers."

The attacker is also described as having a gap in his teeth with a gold tooth on the left side of his mouth, and he spoke with a local accent.

The girl was taken to hospital as detectives searched for the would-be rapist.

Scene watches are in place on the banks of the River Thames at Scours Lane, Tilehurst and in Deacon Way where the sexual assault happened.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Rich Jarvis, of Reading CID urged people with any information about the "shocking" incident to call 101.

He said: "Incidents such as this are rare but I appreciate the concern this will cause in the local community.