Arrest after two assaults reported
An arrest has been made in Bath after a woman reported being inappropriately touched and a man said he was punched in the head by a stranger.
A young woman approached police on patrol in the city centre to tell them that a stranger had just walked up to her and touched her inappropriately and, while they were taking that report, a man arrived and told them he’d just been hit in the head by a man in a street nearby.
The descriptions given by both people matched, and police later arrested a man matching that description. Now, officers in Bath are appealing for any witnesses of either incident to come forward.
The incidents were reported at around 4pm in the Kingsmead Square area of the city centre,
close to the Theatre Royal, on the afternoon of Monday, March 29.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “Patrolling officers were approached by a woman aged 23, who said a stranger had touched her inappropriately.
“While officers were investigating this incident a man aged 29 came forward and reported being punched in the head by the same individual, in an apparently unprovoked assault.
“None of the parties were known to one another,” she added.
The man the two witnesses described to police was white, in his 50s or 60s, around 5ft 10in tall, with scruffy long grey hair.
“He was said to be wearing a dark-coloured coat, tan camouflage chinos and ‘builder’ boots,” the police spokesperson said.
“A man was arrested just before 4.30pm the same day in Monmouth Street on suspicion of sexual assault and assault. He was later released on police bail pending further inquiries,” she added.
Now police want to speak to anyone in the area at the time who might be a witness – especially anyone driving through that part of the city centre at the time.
“If you witnessed or have footage of either incident, or have any other information which could help, call 101 quoting reference 5221067184,” she added.