A MAN has been arrested following the rape of a 14-year-old

girl in Newent.

The girl had entered the lakeside area from the town car

park entrance and was walking her dog in woodland by Newent

Lake (pictured) at around 5pm on Thursday when a man

approached.

The offender raped her and Gloucestershire Police are

appealing for information.

The man is described as Asian, in his early twenties of slim

build, 6ft tall, with short dark hair swept back on top.

He was wearing a blue polo-type T-shirt, jeans and white

trainers and during conversation he indicated he was from

Bangladesh.

A spokesman from Newent Town Council said: “This is a

shocking event as it would be wherever this type of incident

takes place.

“Our staff work at the lake intermittently throughout the

day on a frequent basis and police undertake walks around the

area during the evenings and mornings.”

A 32-year-old man from Oldham was arrested in connection

with this incident on Friday and he has been bailed to return

to Gloucester Police Station on August 31 pending further

enquiries.

A police spokeswoman said: “The Safer Community Team for the

Forest North carry out regular patrols of the area and follow

up any complaints of anti-social behaviour they receive.”

Anyone who was in the area of the lake at the time of the

incident and has any information they can offer to help police

is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090

1234 quoting incident 228 of July 11. Alternatively you can

contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.