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Racegoers praised after police arrest two men on suspicion of rape in Cheltenham

Cheltenham: police are investigating an alleged assault in the town on Saturday
Cheltenham: police are investigating an alleged assault in the town on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.cpm/photos)

A group of Cheltenham Festival racegoers have been praised by Gloucestershire Police after coming to the aid of a suspected rape victim in Cheltenham on Saturday.

Two men were arrested on Monday on suspicion of rape after a woman reported to police she had been sexually attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning, the day after the end of the Cheltenham Festival.

The woman was helped and taken home by the racegoers, who had seen her in a distressed state in the town.

Police had appealed for the group, who are from the Buckinghamshire area and had been seen driving a black seven-seater vehicle, to get in touch to help trace the alleged offenders.

Detective Inspector Claire Nutland, from the county Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, said: "We received calls within two hours from the men who helped the woman and this is all thanks to everyone who shared our initial appeal so quickly.

"I'd like to thank the group who stopped to help, the other members of the public who called us and everyone who shared our appeal. Due to this joint team effort we have moved further forward with the investigation and made two arrests."

The two arrested men, one aged 24 and the other aged 26, have been released under investigation while inquiries continue.


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Peter ScargillDeputy industry editor

Published on 20 March 2019inNews

Last updated 15:01, 20 March 2019

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