March 2021 Girl forced against wall and raped by man while walking home A man has been found guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl in Peterborough last year. Christy Stokes, 39, was arrested on September 11, three days into an investigation of the rape of a teenager in the Millfield area of Peterborough. Police were initially alerted to the attack, which took place near the Alternative Curriculum Education Centre in Lincoln Road, just after 10pm on September 8, 2020. The girl was walking home when Stokes approached her and engaged in conversation before forcing her against a wall and sexually assaulting her. The offence was captured on CCTV, which gave officers sight of the offender. Once an investigation was launched, police began to search for the man. Detectives were in the area of the offence three days later to obtain further CCTV footage when they spotted who they believed to be the man in the footage, wearing the same clothing The officers identified themselves to the man, now known to be Stokes, and informed him that he was under arrest for rape. At that point, Stokes ran from the officers but was soon caught up with and arrested. Stokes, of Victoria View in Smithy Fen, Cottenham, was later charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault by penetration, which he denied. Following a week-long trial at Huntingdon Law Court, Stokes was found guilty of all three offences. He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on April 30.