The "We 8 Argyle" football shirt case

About 2 1/2 months ago in Exeter - back in July - a woman was brutally attacked on her way home along Pinhoe Road, in a little cul de sace called Redlands Close. She was raped and almost killed by an obviously brutal, ruthless person. Who is the suspect?

The thing that struck me recently was the big campaign - with leaflets plastered in windows in shops, cafes, bars, etc. all over Exeter - and the thought of 'what if they got it wront'? They have got the public's attention fixated on the picture of a vintage Exeter City Football Club shirt (red and white stripes, black shorts, just like Sunderland) with a very unusual logo on the back: We 8 Argyle.

This refers to Plymouth Argyle, the local rivals in Devon (and light years ahead of Exeter City who are now floundering in the Conference after relegation about 3 years ago).

So, the suspect might be an Exeter City fan who likes wearing their shirt. If so, he can be easily identified by anyone who knows him - I've never seen anyone with that sort of logo on the back. There can't be more than about 100 in the whole of the city. It is nearly unique. But, supposing the bloke in the Exeter City shirt is not the attacker? What then?

Then, it's the Yorkshire Ripper case all over again, another Geordie tapes hoax disaster. the public are only looking for this person with the Exeter City shirt. This may well be the case, as just the other week, the police were again given the whole front page of the local paper (the Express & Echo) and another suspect - this time in Gandy Street - was shown, again from CCTV footage.

I would guess the following, that the attacker:

• Lives in Exeter. In particular, lives in either Whipton Barton or Beacon Heath, the area surrounding where the attack took place.
• Goes to St James's Park (if only occasionally) to watch Exeter City.
• Is about 6ft tall (from the CCTV images) and thin.
• About 27 years old.

He might also have not followed the woman for very long at all. He might have joined from a side street, somewhere down near Polsoe Bridge. Perhaps he took evasive action regarding CCTV: maybe he knew how to avoid being followed on CCTV.

Let's hope they get the bloke, anyway.