A WOMAN was raped in a communal allotment during an early-hour attack, according to police reports.
The victim, in her 50s, was in Churchill Gardens, Boscombe, at the incident shortly after 1am on Friday, September 15.
Her attacker is said to be known to her, however, police have not made any arrests at the time of publication.
A police cordon remained in place for much of Friday morning as crime scene investigators carried out assessments at the allotment.
Many Boscombe residents said they were “scared” by what happened and expressed concern about seeing police in the gardens.
Shiane Lofthouse, who was sat on a bench watching the police, said he was “shocked” to see the communal allotment taped off.
The 58-year-old said: “I didn’t see anything straight away because I live facing the other way to Churchill Gardens, but I came out this morning to see it was all cordoned off.
“It was fine at 8pm last night when I was last here, but I don’t know what has happened as the police haven’t told me anything.
“I did hear a helicopter fly over my house last night and it was circling above.
“There’s never an issue with crime at the vegetable patch. It was only yesterday that I saw people picking raspberries off the bushes.”
Another man walking through the gardens said: “I first learnt about it through WhatsApp and my partner looked over and thought ‘well, at least there isn’t another tent’.
“Over the summer it has been a good summer, kids love to use this allotment for a good water fight and it’s all very safe.
“But seeing this cordon here this morning, it’s not what we want to see outside our window.”
A spokesman for the force said: “Dorset Police received a report at 1.13am on Friday 15 September 2023 that a woman aged in her 50s had been raped by a man who was known to her in Churchill Gardens in Boscombe, Bournemouth.
“The victim is being supported by specially-trained officers and a full investigation has been launched by detectives from Bournemouth CID.
“There will be an increased police presence in the area and officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.”
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