Edinburgh crime: Woman attacked on Edinburgh's Innocent Railway cycle path by masked teenager

A woman has been attacked by a masked teenager on the Capital’s Innocent Railway path.

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It happened on Friday evening near Bingham Park. Dominic Hinde, a media academic, posted on Twitter on Sunday: “FAO Edinburgh cycle folks – a female friend of mine was subject to a minor sexual assault on the Innocent Railway path by a masked teenager who followed her. Police know but if you or anyone else is approached or harassed by lone masked guy on bike please file a report.

"He was dressed all in black and seemed to be hanging around Bingham Park by the Braid Burn waiting for a woman on their own.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing into a report of a sexual assault on a woman in the area of Bingham Park in Edinburgh.

“The incident happened between 6pm and 6.30pm on Friday, June 10. Anyone with information can call 101, quoting reference 1594 of June 11.”

It comes just a few weeks after another woman was ambushed as she cycled to work along the path.

Cara McKinley was using the path at around 6am on Friday April 29, when she was set upon by three men who she said tried to rob her.

The Innocent Railway path is used by cyclists, joggers and dog walkers.

She said she realised something was wrong when she approached the tunnel and saw the men, who were all wearing tracksuits, waiting around the track. One of them was on a bike.Portobello/Craigmillar Green councillor Alys Mumford said incidents of this kind were a recurring problem on the path and she called for urgent action to improve safety.

She said: "Women are faced with the choice of cycling on a road that is unsafe because of the behaviour of cars or a cycle path which feels unsafe because of the behaviour of other users of that path. It’s a major route from Portobello and Craigmillar into town and we hear anecdotally many reports of this – of intimidating groups, of being cat-called, of being followed. It’s a long, scary path in places and we need to be making sure people are safe when they’re using it. “Long term, we need to imrpove the routes from the north of Edinburgh into town so we can have segregated cycle lanes on roads. But we also need really obvious things like better lighting, better maintenance to make sure there aren’t blind corners with overgrowing shrubs, and we we need it to be well-used – that’s what makes thins safer – so improving the infrastructure so everyone comfortable using it. "It is a brilliant facility, but these simple things could make it a lot nicer and safer for women to use.”Read more: Edinburgh mum appeals for witnesses after harrowing attack on daughter on Lothian bus