Teen arrested after woman, 40, ‘raped by man wearing surgical mask on seafront’

Police are investigating after a woman was raped in Hampshire.

A man grabbed the victim, 40, from behind near the coast at Southsea between 9pm and 11.30pm on Monday, police said.

The force added the man, who was believed to be wearing a surgical mask, assaulted the woman in a park that is located near the seafront on the Clarence Esplanade.

Police arrested a man, 19, on suspicion of rape but he has since been released under investigation.

The victim suffered a suspected broken cheekbone and bruising and was treated at hospital. 

Hampshire Police are appealing for anyone who knows anything about the attack to come forward.

The suspect is described as a heavily built white man with facial hair.

Acting Detective Inspector Wayne Jackson, said: ‘We know this area of the park is used widely by residents and it’s a popular walk-through and we would like to appeal to those who were in the vicinity Monday night to get in contact with us.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.