WOMEN were last night warned to be on their guard after a foreign student was raped in East Oxford.

The 19-year-old was walking home alone after a night out with friends when she was grabbed by a man and attacked in St Clement’s churchyard at about 2am yesterday.

He then threatened her and led the woman through East Oxford to a house, where she suffered a “continued rape”.

Police said she was found in a “traumatised state” by a passer-by near the house at about 6.30am.

Students were last night urged to make sure they stay in group s and try to get a taxi where possible.

Thames Valley Police has stepped up patrols in the area as the detective leading the investigation vowed to catch the rapist.

Det Chief Insp Colin Paine said: “There are about 33,000 students in Oxford during term time and this type of attack is unheard of.

“We are taking this attack extremely seriously and we have got a team of more than 20 detectives, the force major crime unit, and forensic officers working on the case.

“We won’t stop until we get him locked up, no matter what resources are required or how much money needs to be spent.

“The victim was found in a traumatised state and has undergone a series of medical tests, including swabs for DNA, in a bid to find her attacker.

“Understandably, she asked to go to bed this afternoon because she had been up for 36 hours and was exhausted.”

Officers are now trawling through hundreds of council-owned and private CCTV cameras which may have spotted the rapist and his victim in East Oxford.

Forensic officers from across the Thames Valley have been called in to help with a fingerprint search of the churchyard.

Police cordoned off the pathway in the churchyard which leads up to the church door. It is not thought any weapons were used.

The attacker has been described as a light-skinned black man, or of mixed race, about 5ft 7in tall, in his 20s and with short black hair.

Det Chief Insp Paine said he believes it “highly likely” somebody would have seen them and added evidence was found at the churchyard.

He said: “She is a black foreign student and was wearing a distinctive pink cardigan with buttons down the side.

“Somebody may well have seen them and we want to speak with anyone who may have information.

“We would urge women to take normal precautions by going out with a group of friends and taking a taxi where possible.

“I will leave it up to people to draw their own conclusions about the level of risk, although attacks like this in Oxford remain very rare.”

He added: “I would urge the attacker to give himself up to police immediately.”

One 21-year-old second-year student at Oxford Brookes, lives in Marston Road. and told the Mail: “It makes you feel a bit scared to think something like this happened so close by.

“Monday nights are really busy students nights and there must have been so many people in this area, especially in St Clement’s.”

No exact details of where she was taken to or the route the rapist used have been released. Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk