Gardaí in Tramore, Co Waterford, are investigating the alleged abduction and rape of a young German woman in the town at the weekend.
The 22-year-old was walking from Lower Branch Road towards Railway Square near the town centre at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday when a car stopped beside her.
The man leaned over to the passenger side, rolled down the window and spoke to the woman in an aggressive tone, ordering her to get into the car.
The woman became afraid and sat into the vehicle. The girl lives nearby and the driver drove near her home but parked so close to a wall that she was unable to get out of the car.
The driver then took off again and drove out around the Meadowbrook and Clarinwood housing estates in an erratic manner and at high speed. The woman noticed a large taxi nearby at a place where the man parked for a time. The taxi-driver was talking to his passenger for some time and gardaí are anxious to hear from them.
The man then drove off towards the Fenor area, where he pulled into a lay-by and allegedly raped the young woman.
He later drove her back into Tramore and dropped her at her home. The woman's ordeal ended at 6.30 a.m on Saturday morning and gardaí are seeking witnesses who may have noticed the car being driven around during the considerable length of time that she was in it.
Gardaí say the car involved was red and roughly the size of a Toyota Starlet or Nissan Micra. The car stereo had an orange and yellow light, with a tape deck playing "rave" music.
The car was poorly kept inside, with over 50 advertising postcards strewn on the floor and seats, some with Coca-Cola branding.
The man being sought by gardaí is around 25 and is of a lean but strong build. His hair is cut short and is dark blond to brown.
He wore a thick gold neck chain and a silver ring which may have a Celtic design on the middle finger of his left hand. He also had on dark trousers as well as a white- or cream-coloured pullover with a hood and a circle on the back.
Information can be given in confidence to Tramore gardaí on (051) 381333.