Police Appeal For People Who Helped Sex Attack Victim

31 May 2013, 13:34

Police at Eastleigh want to speak to a woman and two men who helped a victim of a sexual assault.

The 24-year-old woman was walking home from Fleming Park Leisure Centre on Thursday 30 May, when she became aware of a man walking behind her as she turned into O'Connell Road.  

At about 11.50pm she reached Derby Road.  When she was adjacent to Grantham Green, the woman was grabbed from behind by a man who put one arm around her throat and the other over her mouth.

The man wrestled her to the ground and indecently assaulted her.  When he realised he was being watched by people at a bus stop nearby, the man fled across Grantham Green.

A woman and two men who were waiting for a bus came to the victim's aid and walked her to Desborough Road before they got on a bus.

A 28-year-old Eastleigh man was arrested at about 2am on Friday 31 May and is in custody at Southampton Central police station.

Police are urging the three people who helped the woman to contact them. 

"These people may have vital witness information which will help our investigation," said Eastleigh PC Stuart Beale.

The three bus passengers and anyone else who witnessed the assault are asked to contact police at Eastleigh on 101.