Police are appealing for information after a woman was sexually assaulted in the Belle Isle area of Leeds.
The incident happened on Monday morning (8 December 2025).
The female victim was walking along a pathway between Old Run View and West Grange Road at 10:50am when she was approached by four masked males on two electric bikes.
A knife was placed against her neck before she was subjected to a sexual assault. All four males, who were wearing black clothing and black balaclavas, then fled the scene.
The offence follows five other incidents of harassment or assault reported to police and believed to be racially aggravated, which have taken place against the same victim in and around the same area over the past month.
It is believed that the same group of males were involved on all occasions.
Officers from Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing team have increased patrols in the area to reassure residents.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Freeman of Leeds District’s Safeguarding Unit said:
“We are appealing for information about these incidents and the four males we believe were in involved in them. This was a particularly horrific incident for the victim to endure and clearly shows an escalating pattern of targeted behaviour.
“That’s why I’m urging anyone in the community who has information about the people involved to get in contact with us.”
The previous incidents all took place at around 9am or in the early afternoon with the first incident taking place between 3pm and 3:30pm on Wednesday 12 November.
Det Chief Inspector Freeman added:
“If you have CCTV footage of the incidents or know anything about what has taken place, I would ask you to please get in contact.
“This is a serious incident, and we want to know who these males are or might be. We are interested in knowing any information about individuals riding e-bikes while wearing masks or balaclavas around Belle Isle.”
Anyone with information contact West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or go online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat quoting reference 13250703697.
Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Police
Photo: Google
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
”have taken place against the same victim in and around the same area over the past month.”
Is this a typo or has the same woman been victimised repeatedly?
It’s not a typo, this is from the West Yorkshire Police press release