Gun carjack victim raped

A woman was kidnapped in her own car in broad daylight and driven to woods where she was seriously sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a gang of four men, police said today.

The attackers used a well worked out ruse with one of them jumping into the road in front of the 26-year-old woman's blue Mercedes estate car.

She thought she had hit him and got out but as she did another car, a black 5 series BMW, pulled up behind and a man got out pointing a gun.

The terrified victim was ordered back into her car and the man on the ground jumped up took the gun from his accomplice and got into the back of the Mercedes.

Pointing the gun at the woman he ordered her to drive east from Chadwell Heath, north-east London towards Romford where they stopped in Lower Bedfords Road.

She was then forced out of the car and towards a wooded area where three other men were hiding.

The gang, all white men aged 18 to 40, then subjected her to a serious sexual assault at gunpoint.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Coomber said: "This is a most serious offence which we are determined to solve.

"The victim has been severely traumatised and we are providing all possible support at this time."

The incident happened on April 16.