Third alleyway sex attack fear after man is brutally raped in Doncaster

Residents in a Doncaster neighbourhood rocked by two reported rapes fear another sex attack is imminent unless security measures are introduced at a dark alleyway.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2016, 11:30 BST
Resident Elaine Jarvill who wantsDoncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean AtkinsResident Elaine Jarvill who wantsDoncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins
Resident Elaine Jarvill who wantsDoncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins

A group of mostly elderly residents who live in Lambeth Road, Balby, claim a nearby thoroughfare has become overrun with drug addicts and prostitutes.

They say they have been campaigning for Doncaster Council to install extra lighting to deter criminals for nearly 10 years, only for their pleas to go ignored.

Residents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean AtkinsResidents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins
Residents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins
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Residents now fear it is only a matter of time until someone is subjected to a serious sexual attack there - after two alleged rapes recently took place in similar alleyways nearby.

Grandmother-of-five Elaine Jarvill, aged 65, said: “Virtually every night people are messing about in that alleyway. We have seen people taking drugs down there, dropping drug paraphernalia all over the place, and have seen men down there with women.

“I have been trying to get the council to put new lighting down there ever since we moved here nine years ago, but they wont do anything.

“A lot of us who live here are elderly and I feel very vulnerable at times. We have seen about two other people being raped in alleyways nearby and we think it will take something bad to happen, like another sexual attack, before they do something about it.”

Residents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean AtkinsResidents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins
Residents Elaine Jarvill and Diana Hastead who want Doncaster Council to put street lighting around the alleyways that surround their homes at Balby Picture Dean Atkins
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She added residents took their campaign to the council about five years ago and raised a petition with around 50 names on it - but they are still waiting for action to be taken.

“The alleyway is very dark and anything could happen down there. If we had better lighting then this would deter people and I doubt we would have a problem.”

Residents’ concerns come after a man aged in his 40s was allegedly assaulted and raped by two men a short distance away in a ginnel between Fulwood Drive and Ashcourt Drive, Balby, at 12.10am on Monday, March 21.

This incident also follows another incident when a woman was reportedly robbed and raped at knife-point by three men in an alleyway off Queen Street, Balby around 11pm on February 20.

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Police say the incidents are not linked and officers are still tracing the suspects.

Doncaster Council has previously done a lot of work in the area to install barriers to stop nuisance motorcycle riders from passing through. A council spokesman said that neighbourhood officers work with police to patrol the area and urged residents to report any issues.

Inspector Lynne Lancaster, from the local policing team that covers Balby, said: “We work closely with our partners in the local authority and the communities we serve so we can better understand concerns and respond to any emerging issues.

“Any residents that are worried about possible criminality at this location, or anywhere else, should call 101 or speak to a local officer. You can also report certain crimes and incidents online.”