DETECTIVES are today hunting four men involved in the abduction and rape of an Ipswich teenager.The 19-year-old was attacked shortly after leaving Kartouche nightclub in Princes Street.

DETECTIVES are today hunting four men involved in the abduction and rape of an Ipswich teenager.

The 19-year-old was attacked shortly after leaving Kartouche nightclub in Princes Street.

The has victim told specially trained police officers she was approached by a man, whom she described as of Asian appearance, as she made her way towards Ipswich railway station.

As the man tried to start up a conversation with her an accomplice joined him.

The pair bundled the woman down an alleyway leading to the car park behind Kartouche where another two men in a white car were waiting.

She was pushed into the rear of the vehicle before it was driven off towards Stoke Park.

The gang drove the woman to the Downside Close area where one of the men raped her in the vehicle.

After the sex attack the teenager was dropped off in the same area. The terrified victim then called her parents for help.

The assault took place around 2.40am on Friday after the woman spent the night at Kartouche.

The man leading the hunt for the rapist and his accomplices, Detective Inspector John Quinton, said today: "The victim has been left traumatised by her ordeal.

"Specially trained officers have been speaking to her over the weekend to obtain a statement and a clearer picture of the events that took place.

"We are anxious to hear from anyone who was in either Princes Street or Downside Close area of Ipswich in the early hours of Friday morning who may have vital information to assist us with our investigation."

The four men responsible for the incident are described as being aged in their 20s.

Three spoke with London accents, one was of Asian appearance and the other three were white. The vehicle was a small white four-door car.

It is the second time in two years that a woman has been raped after leaving Kartouche.

On July 28, 2001, another 19-year-old was befriended by a man who told her he would take her to the Copdock interchange as she was due to get a lift from there to Colchester where she lived.

However the man led her to a lane near the former Paul's Sports and Social Club in Stone Lodge Lane where he raped her.

Anyone with information about the latest attack should telephone Detective Sergeant Duncan Sheppard at Ipswich CID on 01473 383132 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.