Detectives investigating a report of a woman being sexually assaulted in a vehicle in Bognor Regis have arrested a man, Sussex Police have confirmed.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and remains in police custody while enquiries continue.
The victim, a woman in her 30s who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had been in Bognor Regis town centre on the evening of Thursday 1 January. Police say she entered a vehicle near the Tesco Express store on Station Road.
The vehicle, believed to be dark coloured, later stopped in a layby off the A259 near the junction with Marsh Lane, where the driver is alleged to have sexually assaulted the woman.
The victim managed to escape and run to safety before reporting the incident to police. She is now receiving specialist support from specially trained officers.
Officers believe the assault took place between 11.30pm on Thursday 1 January and 1am on Friday 2 January.
Police Appeal for Witnesses and CCTV
Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses and are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the Station Road area near Tesco Express at the time, or who may have seen the vehicle as it left Bognor Regis and approached the bus stop on the A259.
Police are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage from the area during the relevant time frame.
Detective Inspector Rebecca Hopkins said:
“This was a highly distressing incident for the victim, and we are ensuring she has appropriate support in place as our investigation progresses.
“We have made an arrest and our enquiries are ongoing. We still want to hear from witnesses or from anyone with information which could help our investigation.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sussex Police online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Cardington.
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