Teenage suspect arrested after sexual assault in Southsea Common is released by police
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On Monday, August 3 at around 9.45pm, a 40-year-old woman was attacked on Southsea Common, near the Pyramids Centre, and suffered serious injuries.
Since then, police have been investigating, and renewed their appeal for witnesses earlier this week.
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Hide AdA 19-year-old man, who had previously been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in connection with this incident, is no longer being treated as a suspect and will face no further action.
In what has been described as a ‘complex’ investigation, officers are instead looking at the possibility of two suspects.
Detective Inspector Matt Gillooly said: ‘We understand that these sorts of updates will cause increased anxiety but please be reassured that we are continuing to investigate this case thoroughly and are following a number of complex enquiries.
‘We are doing all we can to identify these men, and keep Portsmouth safe.
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Hide Ad‘If you were in the area of Southsea Common in the evening of August 3 we ask you to cast your mind back and try to think of anything unusual that stood out to you.
‘Did you see two or more men acting suspiciously that night? Perhaps you saw a lone man standing near an area of shrubbery who looked out of place.’
One man was described as white with facial hair, wearing a dark baseball cap, a dark top with a zip, and a blue surgical facemask.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting the reference number 44200292589, or Operation Outward.