Man, 21, detained over ‘vicious’ sexual assault in Aberdeen

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 02/11/2012 00:00

A 21-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today after being detained by Grampian Police in connection with the “vicious” rape of a 22-year-old woman, attacked in broad daylight in the city on

Saturday morning.

The investigation into the

alleged sexual assault sparked one of the biggest manhunts in the history of the North-east force and involved more than 130 police officers.

The woman was attacked as she was walking alone near shops in the Powis area of the city.

A spokesman for the force announced early yesterday morning: “Grampian Police can confirm that a 21-year-old male has been detained following one of the largest investigations conducted by the force in

recent times into a serious sexual

assault that took place on

Bedford Avenue, Aberdeen, on Saturday, 27 October.

“The inquiry has involved a dedicated team of over 130 officers including detectives, divisional officers and specialist support from forensic and search teams.

“During the investigation, the force received dozens of calls and statements from some of the 300 residents visited over the past few days. Thousands of hours of CCTV footage has been seized during the search that lasted over five days.”

Last night, a force spokesman confirmed: “The male is expected to appear from custody at

Aberdeen Sheriff Court on

Friday.”

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Dunn, who led the manhunt, praised the response from members of the public to the force’s appeals for information.

He said: “It is down to the positive reaction and co-operation from the public that we have been in a position to detain a male in connection with this

vicious sexual assault.

“I must thank all those who have assisted us so far. I would particularly like to thank residents in the Powis area of

Aberdeen.

“I appreciate this incident will have had a considerable impact on their daily lives.”

The suspect was detained after Grampian Police had appealed to the public for information about two men who had been seen sleeping rough in the area in the days leading up to the alleged rape.

One man had been living rough in an area close to bins in Bedford Avenue, while a second man had been sleeping rough near a grit bin at nearby

St Machar Academy.

The force had also taken the unusual step of issuing a detailed map of the route taken by the victim before she had been left “injured and traumatised” by the sexual assault at 7:30am on

Saturday.

She had followed a route along Union Terrace in the city centre then on to Blackfriars Street, St Andrews Street, George Street and Bedford Road before turning on to Bedford Avenue where the attack happened.

The force announced on Wednesday: “After officers released a map of the route taken by the woman and made appeals in the media, members of the public have given the investigation team a number of positive lines of inquiry.”