This is the face of the man who brutally attacked and raped a 16-year-old girl who was walking home alone in Pitsea at the weekend.

The man was with two pals who must have known he was committing the dreadful attack, detectives today said.

They revealed the trio followed the distraught victim through Felmores for at least five minutes after she was attacked.

Police appealed for the rapist's friends to come forward and help with their investigation.

Det Insp Bob Chatterton, who is leading the hunt, said: "I'm quite sure the two men he was with must have known what was going on even if they didn't see what happened."

The rapist grabbed the youngster and dragged her into a copse close to Malyons Green on the Felmores estate, Pitsea, while his friends waited close by.

The girl was then forced into the shrubbery and raped during a horrific ten minute attack, at about 12.30am on Saturday.

She was today trying to deal with her ordeal with the help of her parents and the police's family liaison officers.

Police have released this computer-generated picture of the man they are hunting.

He is described as white, aged between 18 and his early 20s, 5ft 7ins tall and slim but with big arms.

He had cropped blond hair and wore a light blue T-shirt with the Nike tick logo on the front at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information should call Basildon CID on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Do you know this man? - a police e-fit of the Pitsea rapist

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