By Fay Schlesinger
Last updated at 8:18 AM on 30th March 2009
Police have warned the fiancé of a rape victim to shut down a Facebook site he set up to catch the attacker in case it 'victimises' the criminal, it has been claimed.
The woman’s boyfriend posted CCTV images of the suspect after growing angry at what he thought was lack of progress by police after the rape in Sale, Manchester, last year.
In the first known case of the social networking site being used to hunt a criminal, more than 5,000 people have joined the group Find the Sale Rapist.
The home page has a detailed description of the attacker.
The police had published a CCTV image of the suspect on their website but took it down after just 10 days.
On Facebook, the fiancé, a former restaurant manager, pleads: 'The woman in question was my girlfriend.
‘After a frantic search I found her in the state this beast left her in. I ask everyone to help bring this sick pervert to justice.'
Greater Manchester Police are said to be taking seriously a name suggested by one contributor.
But the distraught fiancé, who is in his 20s, has been warned to remove the site out of fear the rapist will become a 'victim' of vigilante attacks.
Police also believe comments that could prejudice a future trial.
He launched the site to track down the stranger who brutally raped his 21-year-old girlfriend as she walked less than a mile to her parents' home from a pub in Sale, Manchester, on August 2 last year.
He was due to meet her half way but she failed to turn up. After a desperate 45-minute search, he discovered her cowering behind a hedge by the side of the road in tears.
His traumatised girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is too scared to go out at night and cannot work, he said.
Speaking from the home they share in Greater Manchester, he said last night: 'She was a mess when I found her at about 3am. I'll never forget the horror of that moment.
'This evil and dangerous man is still out there but after all these months, the police seemed no closer to catching him.
‘Who logs on to a police website on the off-chance there might be someone wanted who they might recognise?
'They could have given it greater publicity, with posters or more door-to-door knocks.
‘I have managed to get the picture out to more people who are likely to have been out that evening.
'Now they have warned it may have to be taken down. I'm furious that his human rights seem to be prioritised when my fiancée is the one who has suffered.'
'The police said he could be victimised and it could prejudice a future trial.'
The group describes the suspect as a 6ft white man in his 40s or 50s with blond or white hair, a chunky nose, long ears and a local accent.
The fiance added: 'I've been told the site could jeopardise a court case. But if he's not caught, there won't be a court case at all. I'd ask anyone who recognises the man to contact police.'
Greater Manchester Police said they were not able to comment on the individual case yesterday, but a spokesman said that website comments could risk prejudicing a future trial.
He added: 'We would work closely with Facebook and the owners of the site and suggest that certain things might be removed.
‘The internet is a minefield and we have to be aware of legislation around anything that is published.'
Last updated at 8:18 AM on 30th March 2009
Police have warned the fiancé of a rape victim to shut down a Facebook site he set up to catch the attacker in case it 'victimises' the criminal, it has been claimed.
The woman’s boyfriend posted CCTV images of the suspect after growing angry at what he thought was lack of progress by police after the rape in Sale, Manchester, last year.
In the first known case of the social networking site being used to hunt a criminal, more than 5,000 people have joined the group Find the Sale Rapist.
Popular: More than 5,000 people have joined the group Find the Sale Rapist, above
The home page has a detailed description of the attacker.
The police had published a CCTV image of the suspect on their website but took it down after just 10 days.
On Facebook, the fiancé, a former restaurant manager, pleads: 'The woman in question was my girlfriend.
‘After a frantic search I found her in the state this beast left her in. I ask everyone to help bring this sick pervert to justice.'
Greater Manchester Police are said to be taking seriously a name suggested by one contributor.
But the distraught fiancé, who is in his 20s, has been warned to remove the site out of fear the rapist will become a 'victim' of vigilante attacks.
Police also believe comments that could prejudice a future trial.
He launched the site to track down the stranger who brutally raped his 21-year-old girlfriend as she walked less than a mile to her parents' home from a pub in Sale, Manchester, on August 2 last year.
He was due to meet her half way but she failed to turn up. After a desperate 45-minute search, he discovered her cowering behind a hedge by the side of the road in tears.
His traumatised girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is too scared to go out at night and cannot work, he said.
Speaking from the home they share in Greater Manchester, he said last night: 'She was a mess when I found her at about 3am. I'll never forget the horror of that moment.
'This evil and dangerous man is still out there but after all these months, the police seemed no closer to catching him.
‘Who logs on to a police website on the off-chance there might be someone wanted who they might recognise?
'They could have given it greater publicity, with posters or more door-to-door knocks.
‘I have managed to get the picture out to more people who are likely to have been out that evening.
'Now they have warned it may have to be taken down. I'm furious that his human rights seem to be prioritised when my fiancée is the one who has suffered.'
'The police said he could be victimised and it could prejudice a future trial.'
The group describes the suspect as a 6ft white man in his 40s or 50s with blond or white hair, a chunky nose, long ears and a local accent.
The fiance added: 'I've been told the site could jeopardise a court case. But if he's not caught, there won't be a court case at all. I'd ask anyone who recognises the man to contact police.'
Greater Manchester Police said they were not able to comment on the individual case yesterday, but a spokesman said that website comments could risk prejudicing a future trial.
He added: 'We would work closely with Facebook and the owners of the site and suggest that certain things might be removed.
‘The internet is a minefield and we have to be aware of legislation around anything that is published.'
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