Woman waiting for bus abducted and raped

A WOMAN waiting for a bus in north London was dragged away at knifepoint then raped and beaten in a churchyard in a two-hour ordeal.

The 31-year-old victim, who lives with her husband and children near where she was attacked, was pulled into the back of a car in daylight. She regained consciousness while the rape was taking place.

Police condemned the men, who also stole pounds 70, as 'evil, brutal cowards', adding that the attack was all the more shocking because it appeared to be random.

It happened at 7.30pm on Saturday, on Holloway Road, near the junction with Seven Sisters Road. A black car pulled up near the victim and two men got out. One produced a knife and the woman was pulled on to the back seat.

She was then punched about the head by the two men as the third drove to the grounds of St Luke's Church, Hillmarton Road, where the rape took place. She was unable to say how many of the men had raped her.

The victim got help at a nearby flat and was treated at the Whittington Hospital for multiple bruising and a knife mark across her abdomen. She was said yesterday to be 'terribly distressed' and being counselled by specially trained policewomen. Detective Inspector Colin Sutton said passers- by might have thought they were witnessing a row between a boy and girlfriend. Anyone with information is asked to contact Islington police station on 071-704 1212.

Police were also yesterday hunting a man who raped a 45-year-old woman in a cemetery at Croydon parish church, in Surrey, at about 3am on Saturday after meeting her at East Croydon railway station. The attacker had offered the woman, who had travelled from Liverpool to see a concert, a place to stay after she had missed her last train home. He also stole pounds 20.