KEY POINTS:
Police believe a vicious rapist may have been called by his girlfriend as he attacked a woman in Dunedin on Saturday morning.
The 21-year-old student was subjected to a brutal and prolonged rape, during which she was almost strangled her to death.
Senior Sergeant Steve McGregor said he wanted to catch the man before he offended again.
He appealed for information from a person, thought to be the man's girlfriend, who called him on his cellphone during the two hour attack early on Saturday morning.
Police said they could guarantee the person's anonymity if he or she came forward.
The victim was approached by the man when walking home through the city centre between midnight and 1am on Saturday.
He tried to make small talk with her, then attacked her, Mr McGregor said.
The victim was dragged into a car park off Rattray St, where she was raped and repeatedly beaten about her face and body for two hours.
The man also strangled her with a nylon rope and his bare hands.
The offender was described as Caucasian, in his mid- to late 20s, clean shaven with a shaved head. He was medium build, about 175cm tall and wearing dark jeans.
Police also wanted to speak to anyone who saw the long blond haired victim who was wearing a white woollen cardigan with brown buttons.
Footage of the woman was released yesterday, with her permission, in an effort to jog the public's memory of her.
Police were also looking for her mustard yellow leather handbag, with shoulder straps which the attacker stole from her.
- NZPA
