Police arrest 30 year old man after alleged rape in Newcastle
A 15 year old girl told police she'd been raped by a man who gave her a lift home from the city centre in the early hours of Sunday 23rd May
Detectives investigating an alleged rape in Newcastle say they've now arrested a 30-year-old man.
Just after 2am on Sunday 23rd May, police received a report that a 15-year-old had been raped in a car after being picked up by a stranger in the city centre.
Officers spoke to the teenage girl who reported that she had been travelling into Monument Metro Station as she attempted to make her way home.
She spoke to a number of members of the public and walked with them towards the Haymarket in a bid to find her way back to her address in Cowgate.
But she told officers that between 1.15am and 2am she was approached by a man in a dark car near to the Haymarket who offered to give her a lift.
She accepted the offer and the vehicle has travelled towards Cowgate, before it was reported that the driver parked on a street in Blakelaw and raped her in the back seat.
He has then dropped her off at her home address and left the area in the vehicle.
An investigation to identify the suspect was swiftly launched and an appeal for information shared, resulting in a 30-year-old man being arrested yesterday (Sunday). He remains in police custody at this time.
Police say they're continuing to offer the teenager all the support she needs and they hope this arrest can offer some reassurance to both her and the wider community.
Officers add that there is already a highly visible policing presence in the city centre since the re-opening of our night time economy, and say if anyone has any concerns they should approach the officers.
Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to contact officers them through the Northumbria Police website, or by calling 101, and quoting log 153 230521.