Woman, 18, raped by man on Renfrewshire cycle path

Police are appealing for help in tracing the attacker

Police are attempting to trace a man who raped an 18-year-old woman on a cycle path in Renfrewshire.

The teenager was grabbed and dragged into bushes while heading towards Linwood, on the path from Morrisons in Johnstone, at about 14:15 on Thursday.
She was confronted by a man at an area known locally as The Pencil statue. He waited for a woman with a pram to pass before carrying out the attack.
The suspect then made off in the direction of Johnstone.
He is described as white, between 20 and 30 years old, 5ft 10in tall, of slim build with a local accent.
At the time of the incident he was wearing a grey hooded top and grey matching bottoms. He was also carrying a green cylindrical bag, similar to a tent bag, over his shoulder.
'Terrifying ordeal' Det Insp Mark McGowan, of Police Scotland, said: "The victim and her family are extremely distressed following her ordeal, and our specially trained officers are supporting her.
"I'd like to reassure the local community that we are continuing significant enquiries into this incident."
Det Insp McGowan appealed for help in tracing the woman's attacker.
"This was a sunny day and there would have been a number of people using the cycle track at this time," he said.
"I need them - and the woman who the victim described as pushing a pram at the same time the man stopped - to come forward and help me identify the person responsible for putting this young woman through this terrifying ordeal while she was simply making her home."