Police renew witness appeal after Priory Woods incident
West Midlands Police have intensified their appeal for information following a serious incident in Sandwell Valley Country Park, where a woman was discovered injured in the Priory Woods area at around 10.15am on Monday, 29 June. The woman was taken to hospital for assessment and has since been discharged. Detectives now believe she was raped and are urging anyone who may have been in that part of the park earlier that morning to contact them.
Officers are particularly keen to hear from people who were in or around the location between 8am and 11am. The force has asked potential witnesses to come forward with any detail they recall, however minor it may seem, including sightings, conversations, or interactions that could help establish a timeline.
Focused enquiries across CCTV, forensics and park patrols
Detectives from the Public Protection Unit say enquiries have been sustained over the last three weeks, with investigators reviewing relevant CCTV, assessing forensic evidence, and speaking to individuals who may hold information. Neighbourhood teams have been carrying out reassurance patrols in and around the country park since the day of the report, while specialist officers are returning to the scene to continue enquiries and to speak with visitors who might not yet have come forward.
“In the last three weeks officers have been reviewing CCTV footage from around Sandwell Valley Country Park, examining forensic evidence, and speaking to anyone who may have vital information about what happened. Neighbourhood officers have been patrolling the area since the incident and specialist officers will be revisiting the park today to speak to anyone who may have information. We know the park would have been busy on a Monday morning with people enjoying the sunshine. We need to hear from you if you saw anything that was suspicious.”
Detectives emphasise that even small details — for example, noting the presence of particular people, vehicles, dogs, clothing, or any unusual behaviour — can materially assist an investigation of this type. The appeal extends to joggers, walkers, cyclists and anyone passing through the wider Sandwell Valley area on that Monday morning.
What police need from the public
- Witness accounts from anyone in Priory Woods or nearby trails between 8am and 11am.
- Dashcam, cycle-cam or headcam footage captured in or around the country park that morning.
- Any recollection of suspicious activity, however minor it might seem in isolation.
Officers are also asking local residents to consider whether home CCTV or smart doorbell footage may have recorded relevant activity around the time of the incident, particularly on routes leading to and from the country park. The force notes that the passage of time can make recollection harder, which is why they are returning to the location to prompt memories and secure any further accounts.
Timeline of reported events
| Time/Date | Location | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Morning of Mon 29 June (around 10.15am) | Priory Woods, Sandwell Valley Country Park | Woman found injured; taken to hospital for assessment |
| Following three weeks | Across Sandwell Valley Country Park and environs | Review of CCTV, forensic work, neighbourhood patrols and witness enquiries |
| Ongoing | Country park and surrounding areas | Specialist officers revisiting the scene and renewing public appeal |
How to contact investigators
Anyone with information that could help should call 101 and quote reference 20/304639/26. Information, images or footage from the relevant time window — between 8am and 11am on the Monday — may be particularly valuable to officers as they piece together movements in and around Priory Woods.
While the woman has been discharged from hospital following assessment, detectives are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. The force reiterates that community assistance is vital to progress inquiries and to identify anyone responsible.
