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Cold case investigators have released an e-fit of two men who may hold key information about the unsolved gang rape of a teenage girl in a Plymouth hotel in 1978.

The men are believed to have known the identity of the suspects, who may have been members of a visiting rugby team from Wales.

The attackers repeatedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl who had been taken to the now-closed Strathmore hotel in Elliot Street.

Devon and Cornwall Police's Major Crime Investigation Team have led the inquiry into the allegation of rape since they were handed the case in 2015.

Plymouth Live reported exclusively on the case last year when we revealed the crime had been subject to an earlier investigation.

Senior detectives now hope that the public can help them identify the two men - both of whom are considered witnesses, not suspects.

The inquiry team has also released a heartbreaking statement from the victim herself, who still lives in the South West. She has urged the two key witnesses to now come forward, saying "there are not many people who truly get the opportunity in their lives to right such a dreadful wrong".

(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

She has also implored wives, girlfriends or female family members of the rapists to speak out if they have suspicions, warning that these men may have gone on to become coaches in charge of young girls.

Det Supt Joanne Hall said the victim was left deeply traumatised following the incident and has suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ever since.

She said the victim believed the men were visiting Plymouth from South Wales and were from a touring sports team, possibly a rugby team. However, she has warned that this information, given to the victim by one of the men shown in the e-fit, may not be entirely true and that he may have been lying about where the men came from and why they were in Plymouth.

What we know about the incident

The offences took place on a Saturday in either late January or early February in 1978 at the now closed Strathmore Hotel in Elliot Street.

The victim, who was just 17 at the time, was with her female friend out socialising in the Safari Club - later known as the Notte Inn on Notte Street, Barbican when they met a man, believed to be in his 20s.

The victim has told police the man said he was a maths teacher and was part of a sports team on tour from South Wales.

The girl left her friend and went with the teacher to his room at the Strathmore Hotel.

(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)

Around an hour later a large group of men, believed to have been known to the teacher, barged into the room and the victim was subjected to multiple rapes.

The men who committed the offence were all described as white, clean shaven and believed to be in their 20s.

Afterwards, during the early evening, the teacher and another man visited the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, in Millbay Road, with the traumatised girl and her friend.

Police are now trying to trace these two men as vital witnesses and the victim has helped create e-fit images of them.

(Image: Andy Ballantyne)





Detective Superintendent Jo Hall, who is heading the inquiry, said: "I believe these men are the key to identifying the individuals who carried out this horrendous attack as it is clear that the group of men are known to each other.

"We must remember that these images are based on the men in 1978, over 40 years ago, so they would have changed considerably in that time and are likely to be in their 60s now.

"I would like to hear from anyone who recognises these men and I would remind the public that I am seeking these men as witnesses to a horrific crime upon a young female."

(Image: Devon & Cornwall Police)





As part of the investigation Devon and Cornwall Police are also appealing for the help of anyone who was working or staying at the hotel at the time of the offences:

The police's key questions to the public

Did you work at the Strathmore Hotel in January/February 1978?

Did you stay at the Strathmore Hotel in January/February 1978?

Did you regularly visit the Strathmore Hotel at that time?

Det Supt Hall added: "These offences have had a significant impact upon the life of this woman and they remain with her to this day.

"Although this happened over 40 years ago there is every likelihood that allegiances have changed in that time and now is the time to do the right thing.

"If you recognise either of these men or have any information about these offences or who could have committed them please contact us. I need the help of the public to trace the men responsible."

Devon and Cornwall Police have set up a dedicated phone line for anyone who may have information about the multiple rape attack and people are urged to call the incident room on 0800 096 1233 if calling from the UK or internationally on 0207 158 0197, quoting crime reference number CR/023620/15.

The public can also report online via a dedicated appeal page https://mipp.police.uk

Information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers via 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org

What the victim has said

The woman has bravely spoken of the trauma she has endured and how she wants the witnesses to finally "right this dreadful wrong" by naming those involved.

She has also appealed to the female friends and family of those who gang-raped her to air any suspicions they may have.

She said: "In late January 1978, aged 17, I was raped by a group of men who claimed to be part of a South Wales touring rugby team.

"These rapes took place in a room at the top of the Strathmore Hotel, Plymouth.

"At the time, I was around eight-and-a-half stone [55kgs] and incapable of preventing these men from physically overpowering me."

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"To the two men who took me and my friend to the Duke of Cornwall Hotel after I was raped: You appeared at the time to want to stop the attack on me, and you also appeared to be shocked by the action of your team mates.

"I would like you to know that I was very young and very scared and that the impact of your team mates’ rape on that Saturday afternoon has affected me every day for 42 years.

"The shame of not being able to stop the attack caused me to leave home, aged 17. Even now at 59, I suffer from PTSD.

"You may well have daughters or granddaughters of your own by now. I’m sure that your family and friends would like to think that they know how far you would go to protect them, should the need arise.

"There are not many people who truly get the opportunity in their lives to right such a dreadful wrong.

"The fact that you actually know the identities of all of my rapists gives you this unique opportunity. Please help me by coming forward and identifying your team mates who raped me.

"To the wives, girlfriends, mothers, sisters, friends, acquaintances, drinking buddies, and families of the wider communities of South Wales and Plymouth: The men who raped me came home after that event and carried on with their lives. I have lived with this trauma, day in day out, for 42 years.

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"If you recall someone you know going away to Plymouth to play rugby or any other sport with his team mates around this time, or you recall any gossip associated with a tour of South West England, please contact the police to help me.

"To assist with placing this period in time it might help to know that it was around the time of the Firemen’s Strike. The military had been mobilised to provide emergency cover. And, it was a very cold weekend. Some Plymouth Corporation pitches cancelled fixtures as result of the weather.

"Perhaps you were, or knew someone who was, part of a club, or military team whose matches were cancelled that weekend in January. Perhaps you remember going to the pub with another team instead of playing a much-anticipated tour match.

"Worryingly, my rapists may now be in charge of coaching or training your loved ones as young players. They may be in positions of influence, and I ask you to consider whether you really want your children or grandchildren being influenced by men who gang raped a 17 year-old child."

"This ordeal for me might have been laughed off by team mates as tour high spirits. But this was nothing of the sort. For me, it was terrifying.

"Fortunately, though, there are many people who know exactly what these men did to me because they were there to witness it; however, allegiances change over time, and those witnesses may not feel able to protect these people any longer by the silence of the 'what happens on tour, stays on tour' mantra.

"You may even know how they planned it, and how they put that plan into operation. You may even be aware that this was possibly not the first or last time that they did something similar to other young girls or women.

"Please help me by taking this opportunity to right this dreadful wrong."

Join our Crime and Punishment Facebook page We've set up a dedicated Facebook group for Crime and Punishment news in Plymouth. Here we will post the latest news on crime and court, written largely by our specialist reporters Carl Eve and Stuart Abel. Got a story you think we should be covering? Get in touch and send us a message on here, email news@plymouthherald.co.uk, or Tweet us @plymouthherald. To join the group click here and select 'join'.

Professional Standards enquiry

In June 2019 Plymouth Live revealed how Avon and Somerset Police were tasked with contacting former Devon and Cornwall Police officers who worked at Crownhill police station in May 1993. Their inquiry focused on allegations that the woman attended Crownhill police station's front office one evening to make a report of an historic serious sexual offence allegation.

As as result of the inquiry by detectives from Avon and Somerset Police's force's Professional Standards department from that force, a number of serving and retired officers were identified to assist with their investigation.

Devon and Cornwall Police has said they are unable to comment regarding the ongoing inquiry at this time.