Police were called to New High Street, Oxford, at around 12.10am on Friday (October 11) following a report of the serious sexual assault.
Police sealed off an alleyway near the Shark House on New High Street as part of their investigation into the incident.
Matilda, who did not want to give her second name, said: “This area always seems very safe. It’s shocking and upsetting to hear things like that.
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“It’s peaceful round here. It is a nice neighbourhood. I’ve heard nothing like this before and I’ve lived here for 13 years.
“There might be fights sometimes with people coming out of the pub but nothing like this.”
Peter, who lives close to where the attack is believed to have happened, has lived in the street for eight years.
He said he had heard talk about a serious assault but was shocked to hear it was rape.
He said: “The police were here about lunchtime on Friday and the alleyway was taped off.
“It’s shocking.
“You get crime around the shops on the main road, people going into the shops and stealing – that sort of thing. But that sort of crime, something so serious, no.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of something like that.
“I don’t particularly worry about safety and wives and daughters because what has happened is so out of the ordinary for round here.”
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Two young women who asked not to be named said they had noticed an unusual number of police around last week.
One said: “It’s a very nice area. We have never seen police around and on Friday morning when I was going to the hospital there were a lot of police and I thought that was unusual.
“It’s really terrible to hear.”
Police had removed the cordon around the alleyway by Saturday morning.
Staff at a nearby pub said police “were out and about yesterday not had them today. The cordon has been removed. I’ve not seen anything this morning.
“We believe it may have occurred in the little alleyway off New High Street. But there’s nothing left of the investigation today.”
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Meanwhile Headington Market started as usual on Saturday morning (October 12).
Joe Bastin, market manager, said: “I’ve seen a high police presence this morning but the market’s going on as usual. I’ve seen a higher presence in cars, quite a few police cars in and around the area.
“There’s usually one or two but I’ve seen about five already.”
Police said they are investigating the incident “as a priority” and urged anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information to get in touch.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information, should call 101 or report online, quoting reference number 43240489084.