Man who bashed and assaulted new mother in a North Melbourne laneway in 2013 is still on the loose

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Chloe was just 22 and had a seven-week-old baby when she was stalked, dragged into a Melbourne laneway, bashed and sexually assaulted by a man who is still on the loose five years on.

It was 30 June 2013 and the new mother had been in North Melbourne with friends enjoying her first night out since having her son, when her world was shattered by the vicious attack on her walk home.

Chloe has given up her anonymity to appeal for information to catch her attacker as Victoria police announce a $500,000 reward.

“It destroyed me for a really long time,” Chloe said in a video released on Sunday.

“I was a new mum, I couldn’t be the mum I wanted to be because I was dealing with this.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Chloe following the vicious sexual assault in North Melbourne on 30 June 2013.

“As much as it damaged me, I think it damaged me and my son’s relationship.”

The man followed Chloe for more than a kilometre up King Street, along Victoria Street and into Chetwynd Street and as she passed Browns Lane, the man grabbed her and dragged her into the lane.

He then unleashed a flurry of punches to her head, knocking her to the ground, kicking her in the head before sexually assaulting her.

“You should be allowed to walk where you want to walk, you should be able to do what you want to do, you shouldn’t have to fear for yourself or fear that someone’s going to follow you and do something like that to you,” she said.

Chloe spent time in hospital after with a broken nose, split lip which has scarred, as well as significant injuries from the sexual assault.

Detective Inspector Steve Wilson said police in particular wanted to speak with four men who may have seen Chloe walking before she was attacked.

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“Brutal’s not a word I use very often but I think it’s the best way to describe this particular attack,” Wilson told reporters.

“Because of the extremity, the extreme violence involved, we need to do justice for Chloe.”

Police have say they have several persons of interest and have interviewed one man, but they are missing some vital pieces of information.

“He’s been quite prepared to use that extreme violence so he’s someone we need to get off the streets,” Wilson said.

Police have released CCTV of Chloe walking home from the night and a CrimeStoppers re-enactment of the attack along with Chloe’s video and the reward.

Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) This is Chloe and she has bravely shared her story in the hope that someone may recognise the offender who raped and assaulted her. We urge you to watch this and please share to bring Chloe justice. pic.twitter.com/nWSNkhRwSQ

The man was last seen running south down Chetwynd Street and is described as being of either Asian or Indian subcontinental appearance, medium build with short, black cropped hair and unshaven with stubble. He was wearing a black top, blue jeans and an open leather jacket.