Police investigating reports woman raped by group of men in Banbury
Officers were called to the churchyard of St Mary's Church in the early hours of this morning
Last updated 29th Sep 2025
Thames Valley Police have launched an investigation after a woman reported being raped by a group of men outside a church in Banbury.
Officers say a woman in her 30s was attacked in the churchyard of St Mary's and the surrounding area of the Oxfordshire town centre in the early hours of this morning (Sunday 28th September 2025).
They're appealing for a woman who tried to stop the attack to come forward.
Detective Sergeant Mark Personius said:
"This is a horrific crime and Thames Valley Police is conducting a thorough investigation to identify the offenders.
"We are supporting the victim with specifically trained officers at this extremely difficult time.
"I am making a public appeal to a specific witness, a woman, who we believe may have tried to help the victim.
"At this stage we don't have a description of this Good Samaritan.
"However, if you believe you are the woman, please contact the police as you may have vital information that can help us piece together what happened.
"The town centre would have been busy on a Saturday night into the early hours of a Sunday morning, therefore, I would also appeal to anyone else who saw or heard anything in the area between about 12am and 2.30am this morning to come forward."
Anyone with information is being urged to call 101, quoting reference number 43250495078.