Police update into Portsmouth rape where 21-year-old arrested for street attack of woman in 40s

A 21-year-old from Portsmouth was arrested in December over the rape of a woman in her 40s in Northern Parade, Hilsea, between 1am and 2am on August 17. It sparked police into releasing CCTV footage of a man walking through the M27 underpass towards the location. The rape happened after the female asked the unknown male for directions before he walked with her for a short distance and then raped her.

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The authority carried out patrols in the area and put out public appeals to help catch the predator. They also sought to reassure concerned residents of Northern Parade, Gladys Avenue and Magdalen Road in August.

In December, police said the man had not been charged after being released for three months. ‘He has been released from police custody on conditional police bail while our enquiries continue – bail date is March 14,’ a police spokeswoman said.

Now the force has revealed the man has been eliminated from enquiries as detectives continue to hunt the predator. ‘The 21-year-old man arrested in connection with this incident has now been eliminated from our enquiries and has been released from the investigation with no further action being taken against him,’ a spokeswoman said.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference 44220334437 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their anonymous online form.

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