Man arrested after woman is raped in subway
AMAN has been arrested after a woman was raped in a town centre subway. Police said the victim, who is in her thirties, was attacked in a subway on the Esplanade shortly before 3.15am on Tuesday. The incident occurred a few hundred metres
away from where another woman was raped just months ago, near the town hall - though police say the two attacks are not being linked.
A police spokesman said a 21-year-old man has been arrested following the latest incident, and bailed pending further enquiries.
AMAN has been arrested after a woman was raped in a town centre subway.
Police said the victim, who is in her thirties, was attacked in a subway off the Esplanade shortly before 3.15am on Tuesday.
The incident occurred just a few hundred metres away from where another woman was raped just months ago, near the town hall - though police have said the two attacks are not being linked.
Police said a 21-year-old man was arrested following the latest incident.
A local resident, who did not wish to be named, said he has four daughters and said the two incident had left him constantly thinking about how they will get home safely.
He said: “I have got a daughter so I make sure
she’s always coming home safely. I always try to make sure she doesn’t walk back that way by herself.
“So obviously I’m worried.
“You should be able to go where you want - all of these attacks have taken place in such a small area.
“I go out quite a bit in Rochdale and there’s always people hanging about there at weird times.”
The man, who lives less than a 10 minute walk away from where both incidents occurred, added: “I’ve got four daughters and they think they are unstoppable - that nothing will happen to them.
“It’s frightening for me on their behalf.”
Witnesses on Tuesday morning reported a large police presence around the subway, which leads from The Esplanade under St Mary’s Gate.
Officers attended the scene on and a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
The victim is being supported by specially trained officers.
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4646, quoting incident number 277 of 03/09/19 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Coun Iftikhar Ahmed said: “This kind of behaviour is obviously unacceptable. Of course we are very worried for the safety of the residents and this kind of matter needs to be looked at on an urgent basis. People, especially females, need protection.
“We need more police community support teams patrolling the areas - especially near the town hall.”
Council leader Allen Brett added that it was a “very serious thing” that had happened but that he was working closely with police to make sure the town centre was a safe place.
In March, a woman was forced to the ground and raped in a wooded area near the back of the town hall. The attack happened shortly after 5am on Sunday, March 31.
A man was arrested afterwards, but no charges were brought against him.
Anyone with information should contact police quoting reference number 412 of 31/03/2019.