Police have taken a 55-year-old Oxford resident into custody in connection with a reported sexual assault at a retail park in the city.
Officers from Thames Valley Police confirmed the man was apprehended on Thursday, September 3, following an incident at Templars Shopping Park, a location formerly known as the John Allen Centre.
The individual has since been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries, with a date set for mid-November.
The arrest came after detectives issued a public appeal the previous Sunday, August 30, seeking assistance in locating a man suspected of involvement in the reported offence.
Investigators established that the alleged assault occurred during the afternoon of Tuesday, June 30, when a woman in her twenties experienced inappropriate physical contact over her clothing at approximately 3pm.
Authorities had distributed an image of a male through social media platforms, indicating that the individual depicted might possess significant information regarding the reported sexual assault at the shopping centre in Cowley.
A subsequent statement from Thames Valley Police corrected terminology used in earlier communications, confirming that the location in question was indeed Templars Shopping Park, which had previously operated under the John Allen Centre name, and expressing regret for any misunderstanding caused by the original wording.
Detective PC Emily Rice, who has been leading the investigation, urged members of the public with any relevant information to submit their findings through the force’s official online reporting system or by telephoning the non-emergency number 101, citing reference case number 43260331880.
Those preferring to provide information without identification may contact the independent charitable organisation Crimestoppers, reachable by calling 0800 555 111 or via the charity’s website.