Witness appeal following report of rape and sexual assault in Bournemouth
Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward as they investigate a report of rape and sexual assault in Bournemouth – with a man charged in connection with the incident.
Dorset Police received a report at 8.40pm on Sunday 19 May 2024 that a teenage girl had been raped at Bournemouth Beach and another teenage girl had been sexually assaulted. The incident is reported to have occurred in the area of the Bournemouth Oceanarium at around 7.30pm that evening.
The victims are being supported by specially-trained officers and a full investigation into the matter remains ongoing.
Following enquiries, a 24-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested and has been charged with two counts of rape and sexual assault. He is due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 23 May 2024.
Detective Inspector Mark Fursman, of Dorset Police, said: “This remains an extensive ongoing investigation and I am appealing to anyone with information that might assist our enquiries to please come forward.
“I would urge anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area of the Oceanarium on the evening of Sunday 19 May 2024 to please come forward. I would also urge anyone who may have taken any footage or images from the beach on that evening to please review the material to see if they have captured anything that might help our investigation.
“We fully recognise reports of this nature may cause concern for our local communities and I would like to reassure members of the public that there will be an increased policing presence in the vicinity and officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.
“We will also again be working with our partners to ensure a visible presence in the area of beach and seafront as we enter the summer months.
“This has been a fast-moving and detailed investigation and we have consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges.
“This matter is now the subject of court proceedings, and it would therefore be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage. It is vital that the judicial process is allowed to follow its course and I would like to remind the public that there should be no commentary or sharing of information online or on social media that could potentially prejudice these proceedings.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240074793. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
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