Kent Police have arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of rape following an alleged assault near a church in Maidstone, as reported by The Sun. The arrest took place on Wednesday, with the suspect currently in custody as investigations proceed.
Incident Details
According to police, a report was received late on Saturday that a woman had been raped by a man she met earlier that evening. The alleged assault occurred at two separate locations between 7 PM and 10 PM: first at a venue on the high street, and later near a church in the town.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have cordoned off areas related to the incident as part of the ongoing inquiry. Police are appealing to local residents with private CCTV or drivers with dash cameras who may have been in the area at the time to check their footage. Such evidence could help officers piece together the victim's activities that night.
Increased police patrols have been deployed in parts of Maidstone. Residents reported seeing police tape and vehicles patrolling the neighborhood, as well as forensic experts examining areas near the church and town centre on Sunday morning.
Community Response
Community figures in Maidstone have expressed concern following the reports. Some residents revealed shock upon learning that two different locations were linked to the same inquiry. Authorities have advised anyone experiencing distress due to the news to seek support from community groups and victim support services.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Kent Police immediately via emergency services, quoting reference number 46/73799/25.
