Man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple women in 30-minute period at university campus

A man has been arrested after multiple women said they had been sexually assaulted at a university.

Officers were called to Huddersfield University on Tuesday by security staff following several reports of a man approaching and sexually touching women around and near the campus on Tuesday evening.

West Yorkshire Police established that seven women had been approached and sexually assaulted by a suspect between 6pm and 6.30pm.

All of the women had made off from a suspect after he approached and grabbed at them, the force said.

A 29-year-old man was later arrested in Huddersfield on suspicion of sexual assault and remains in custody.

The force said officers remain in close contact with the university, which is supporting those affected by the incident.

Detective Inspector Sarah Bradley said: “We fully recognise the distress and concern this incident has caused and can confirm a comprehensive investigation remains ongoing into these offences.

“We continue to work closely with our partners at the university to provide reassurance to students and staff and remain fully committed to supporting victims and safeguarding those who live, study and work in Huddersfield.”

University of Huddersfield deputy vice-chancellor Professor Tim Thornton said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors is our highest priority.

“We are aware of the reported incident and have been working closely with West Yorkshire Police, who have confirmed that an arrest has been made.

“We recognise that incidents of this nature are deeply concerning and we are providing wellbeing support to anyone affected.

“As a precaution, we have increased security patrols around campus and are encouraging all members of our community to make use of our SafeZone app, which provides direct access to emergency assistance, wellbeing support and our campus support and safety team.

“We remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for everyone who studies, works and visits our campus.”

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).