Australian raped in Manhattan alley after leaving exclusive Lavo nightclub, reports say
The scene of an after party for the 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Lavo NYC on November 7, 2012 in New York City.
An Australian tourist was raped in an alley after leaving the exclusive Lavo nightclub in Manhattan, police say.
According to the Murdoch press, the 20-year-old Victorian woman was returning to her hotel when she was grabbed from behind near the corner of Madison Avenue and East 58th Street early on Sunday.
According to the paper, Lavo is a favourite among supermodels and such Hollywood stars as Leonardo DiCaprio and Gerard Butler.
The woman had left the nightclub around 3.35am and hailed a taxi, but got out after an argument with the driver, possibly over the fare.
The attack happened moments later.
A New York Police Department spokesman told Fairfax Media:
"The victim … exited a yellow taxi on East 58 Street, was grabbed from behind, dragged into an alleyway, and sexually assaulted."
A resident of the area reportedly told CBS that such an attack was rare in the upmarket neighbourhood.
Donald Beldock said:
"That's pretty shocking because this is a well maintained neighbourhood and incidents of that nature don't usually happen."