Woman ‘assaulted in city at night’

A MAN is in police custody following an alleged attack on a young woman in Plymouth city centre in the early hours of yesterday morning, writes Carl Eve.

Police have said the woman, who is in her early 20s, was walking along Mayflower Street from Coburg Street at just after 2.20am.

The council’s CCTV operator spotted a man following her along the street and when she got near to the entrance of the Mayflower Court House car park he approached her and carried out an alleged assault.

It is understood the woman was knocked to the ground. She was able to get up and ran off, but was chased by the man.

Police officers were directed to the scene by the CCTV controller and the suspect was arrested on suspicion of common assault.

He was taken to Charles Cross police station custody suite, where he remained last night.

A police spokesperson said the woman escaped with minimal injuries but “she is understandably very shaken”.

They stated: “Devon and Cornwall

Police continues to be one of the safest regions in the UK. Incidents of this nature within Plymouth are extremely rare but they are taken very seriously.

“A swift response from officers resulted in the time of offence to arrest being under two minutes. The woman escaped with minimal injuries; however she is understandably shaken.”

The incident comes at a time of heightened concerns for woman walking alone at night following the killing of Sarah Everard in London.