Police have launched an urgent probe after a woman in her 20s was chased and sexually assaulted by a man near Bournemouth beach.
A 26-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and stalking after he approached the woman before making ‘inappropriate comments’, Dorset Police said.
The victim was approached while walking along Meyrick Road, near the beach front, at around 7pm on February 18.
She was ‘touched over her clothing’ before a passerby intervened after hearing her ‘shouting’.
She had fled into a block of flats to escape the man but was followed by the attacker, who cornered her after she arrived at a dead end.
The suspect has been released on bail while enquiries continue.
A spokesperson for the force said the man was making inappropriate comments toward the victim and followed her as she ran away in the direction of Elizabeth Court.
They added: ‘When she reached an enclosed footpath, the man got very close to the victim and reportedly touched her over her clothing.
A woman in her 20s was chased by a thug before being sexually assaulted near Bournemouth beach (pictured) as she screamed
The victim was ‘touched over her clothing’ before a passerby intervened after hearing her ‘shouting’. Pictured: Bournemouth beach
A 26-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and stalking after he approached the woman before making ‘inappropriate comments’, Dorset Police said. (File image)
‘She managed to run away towards Bath Road’.
Detective Constable Merryn Matthews, of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Criminal Investigation Department, said: ‘A full investigation has been ongoing into this incident and we are supporting the victim as enquiries continue.
‘During the incident, a member of the public intervened after reportedly hearing the victim shouting as she tried to leave the scene.
‘I am keen to speak to this person, and anyone he was with at the time, as they may have important information to assist my investigation.’
In August, a 22-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after two teenage girls were allegedly assaulted by a group of men while in the sea at Bournemouth beach.
The two girls, both 16, were swimming in the water when they met a group of men with two double lilo inflatable mattresses.
They are alleged to have been assaulted while they were on one of the lilos.
Meanwhile, in April a 20-year-old man who raped a 15-year-old girl in the sea on a busy summer’s day in front of packed Bournemouth beach was jailed.
