A SOUTH YORKSHIRE woman was raped in her cabin on a continental ferry while her husband slept by her side.
The alleged attack on the 38-year-old woman happened on a P&O ferry, The Pride of Bilbao, travelling from Spain to Portsmouth in the early hours of last Saturday, August 6.
The woman was asleep in a cabin with her husband when she was attacked.
Po
lice say the man ran off when she cried out.
Det Con Paul Stenton, of Hampshire Police, said: "The victim is extremely distraught and is struggling to come to terms with this."
After the attack, the couple discovered £200 cash and a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco were missing from their cabin.
A P&O spokesman said the captain of the ship alerted police as soon as the incident was reported to him, and officers met the vessel when it docked at Portsmouth.
He said: "A very serious allegation was made during the crossing and we informed the police that they might want to meet the ship.
"We are of course helping the police with their inquiries."
The woman's attacker was described as 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build with short, dark hair and wearing dark clothing.
Police investigating the attack want to speak to two people who were seen walking along 'Five Deck' at the time who may have vital information.
They also want to hear from any passengers who were walking around the ship at approximately 2am on Saturday and saw a man matching the description acting strangely.
