Brighton serial groper suspect released on bail (From The Argus)
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Brighton serial groper suspect released on bail
1:12pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter
A 21-year-old man arrested in an inquiry into street groping attacks in Brighton has been released on bail.
The man was held after two attacks on women in Brighton on Saturday and was also questioned about four other assaults dating back to November.
Police want to trace a taxi driver and a couple who helped a woman in the city centre early on Saturday morning.
At about 12.25am on Saturday, February 2 a 26-year-old woman was grabbed from behind and groped over her clothes in Roundhill Crescent, Brighton.
He ran off when the woman told him to go away.
He was mixed race, early 30s, between 5ft 7in and 5ft 10in, average build.
He had short hair and stubble, and wore a short beige jacket.
At 4.20am another 26-year-old woman was subjected to a similar assault at the junction of North Road and Gloucester Place.
The attacker disappeared when a passing taxi driver asked if she was all right. But when the woman walked on north towards London Road, the the man jumped on the woman again.
She ran off and found a couple who walked with her as far as the Hobgoblin pub.
She described the man as Asian, in his early 20s, and slim. He had dark hair and wore a waist-length hoodie or anorak.
Both the women were described as “severely shaken” but unhurt.
A man was arrested on Sunday and released on bail until March 3.
Similar incidents
Police are also investigating similar incidents in Upper Hollingdean Road and The Level early on Sunday, November 18, in Hollingdean Road on December 8, in Union Road, Brighton, on January 3 and in Lewes Road on Thursday, January 17.
After the latest assaults, Detective Inspector Steve Warner, said; "We would like to talk to anyone who saw what happened, or who was approached by a man of similar description in the city centre in the early hours of Saturday.
“We would particularly like to talk to the taxi driver and the couple who were in London Road, and who may not have appreciated exactly what was happening at the time.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting Operation Ampfield, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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