Man arrested after sex attack in Horsham alley

Police say that the 21-year-old woman was attacked from behind when she was walking through an alley between Boxall Walk and Gorings Mead off Brighton Road at 2.30am on Saturday September 12.

Officers say the woman’s shouts and screams alerted local residents and the attacker ran off.

The woman, who suffered cuts and bruises, is now being supported by specially trained officers.

A police spokesman said: “Police attended swiftly and searched the area, and at 3.25am officers arrested a man aged 21 nearby on suspicion of the assault.

“After being interviewed the man was released on police bail until 7 October while enquiries continue.”

Detective Constable Della Squires of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit put out a plea to the public. She said: “If you saw anything suspicious in that area early on the Saturday morning, or if you have seen any apparently discarded items nearby that seem strange to the area, please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting serial 195 of 12/09.”