THE mother of a teenage girl who was raped in a portable toilet at the Royal Highland Show today said her family had been left "devastated" as she appealed for the attacker to give himself up.
The 17-year-old victim, from Aberdeen, was raped in the early hours of Saturday morning during the Young Farmers' Ball at the Ingliston event.
The victim's mother urged anyone with information on the attack to contact police, warning: "If he isn't
caught he could do it again." She added: "My daughter is trying to put this awful experience behind her, and as a family we are trying to live life as normal in what is a very abnormal situation.
"We are all devastated, but we are strong, and we are pulling together as a family to support each other and get through this."
Her daughter managed to give a detailed description of her attacker and has been working with police to build up an e-fit picture of the suspect.
The victim's mother said: "At this time I would also appeal to the person who carried out this crime against my daughter to hand himself in to police at the earliest opportunity."
Detectives today appealed again for visitors to the show to send in any photos taken by cameras or phones to police in case the attacker was caught in the background.
The force set up a dedicated e-mail address at highlandshow@lbp.pnn.police.uk to receive the pictures.
Officers are hoping that a forensic sample from the suspect may produce a DNA profile which can be run through the national criminal database in search of a match.
The victim had just finished using one of the portable toilets situated between the marquee and the east caravan park when the attack took place between 12.30am and 1am on Saturday.
The suspect pushed her back inside the toilet and closed the door behind them. Despite her shouts and screams for help, the loud music drowned out her cries as revellers queued only a few feet away.
The suspect is described as white, mid-to-late 20s, stocky build, and between 5ft 9in and 5ft 10in tall.
He was unshaven with short brown hair, described as being in a gelled, messy style, and he had a distinctive small nose.
He was wearing light blue jeans, and a dark blue rugby-style shirt with yellow letters on the back.
It is thought that he was at the ball in the company of a group of young men, one of whom had on a distinctive Australian-style bush hat, and was wearing blue jeans and a red top, with white lettering.
In 2006, a 17-year-old girl was raped in the north car park of the Ingliston Showground as she made her way back to a nearby caravan from the Young Farmers' Ball. No-one was ever caught for that attack.
Anyone with any information should contact police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
