A man has been taken into custody in connection with the sexual assault of a woman who was forcibly taken into a wooded area in a town on Bonfire Night.
The 24-year-old, hailing from Bournemouth, is currently under interrogation regarding the assault on the woman in her 30s and is being detained by the police. Dorset Police reported that they were alerted at approximately 9:18 pm on November 5 following a complaint that a woman in her 30s had been sexually assaulted in a wooded vicinity near Maxwell Road in Bournemouth.
The woman had met with a friend in Charminster when she was approached by an unfamiliar man. After a brief interaction, they proceeded together to Maxwell Road where the alleged incident occurred, as mentioned by the authorities.
Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins of the Major Crime Investigation Team has urged individuals with any information about the incident or possessing CCTV footage from the area to come forward.
“We are providing specialized support to the victim and keeping her informed throughout our investigations,” he stated. “An arrest has been made, and our inquiries are ongoing. We encourage anyone with information or relevant CCTV footage to reach out.”
“We acknowledge that such reports may raise concerns within the community, but we assure you that local officers are conducting patrols in the region and are available for assistance or information sharing,” he added.
Individuals with information are urged to reach out to Dorset Police via their online platform or by dialing 101, quoting occurrence number 55250163716. Alternatively, Crimestoppers, an independent charity, can be contacted anonymously online through their website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
A statement released by Dorset Police announced, “An arrest has been made as detectives continue to investigate a reported sexual assault in Bournemouth. The report was received at 9:18 pm on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, indicating that a man had sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s in a wooded area near Maxwell Road.”
“The victim had met with an acquaintance in Charminster and was approached by an unknown man. Following a brief interaction, they walked together to Maxwell Road where the incident occurred.”
“An inquiry was launched, and subsequent investigations led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Bournemouth on suspicion of sexual assault. He is currently in police custody.”