An Eshowe teen managed to escape her rapist after he fell asleep after sexually assaulting her at the weekend‚ police said.

A police source with knowledge of the investigation‚ who spoke to TMG Digital on condition of anonymity‚ said that the 17-year-old girl had been kidnapped by her attacker at gunpoint late on Saturday night.

“She was dragged into the bush close to her home and raped. The man later fell asleep and she used her chance to escape and ran straight back to her house to raise the alarm‚” the source said.

The following day‚ police officers traced the suspect and confronted him in the Vuma area.

“When the police approached the suspect he just drew a pistol and pointed it at the police.”

The police opened fire on the man‚ wounding him in the foot.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed that the man had been rushed to Eshowe Hospital but was later discharged and detained.

He faces charges of rape and kidnapping.