Raped teenager: man arrested

A MAN has been arrested in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Oldham.

The arrest was made after an eagle-eyed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in Manchester spotted that the suspect matched a description.

The 16-year-old was attacked between the hours of 2 and 5am on Saturday, March 5, in Forest Street, Hathershaw.

Detectives identified a suspect and put his details on an internal bulletin, which was circulated electronically in police stations across the north Manchester division.

A PCSO working in Manchester city centre noticed a man who matched the description while he was on patrol in the Piccadilly area and contacted officers for assistance.

A short time later an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape as well as theft from a separate incident. He was bailed until May 3 pending further inquiries.

Chief Insp Donna Allen said: “This is an excellent example of our staff sharing information across the force and thinking quickly.”