Police hunting a rapist in Banbury hope the new Crimestoppers initiative will bring them closer to their man.

An 18-year-old woman was raped in the churchyard of St Leonard's church in the Grimsbury area of Banbury at about 1am on August 5.

Her attacker made off along a nearby alleyway on the south side of Middleton Road.

The man is described as white, 5ft 7ins, late 30s to early 40s, slim to medium with short blonde hair and balding. He was clean shaven and wearing blue jeans.

Banbury police area spokesman David Campbell said the new Crimestoppers hotline guaranteed anonymity.

"It is also a simple phone number that can be easily remembered and in future all communication concerning the rape will have this number attached.

"Hopefully this will give us some fresh leads in the case."

Police say that under the new scheme cash rewards can be paid to callers whose information leads to the arrest and charge of a suspect.

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