Man arrested over attempted rape on board Sheffield train

A 33-year-old from Barnsley was arrested on Saturday and has been bailed to return on January 20.

Police, who are still appealing for information, said the attempted rape happened on board a Sheffield to Leeds train on Saturday, November 19.

The 27-year-old victim’s partner had gone to the toilet on board before the delayed 10.24pm service left Sheffield station at 10.40pm.

While he was away, another man sat beside the victim and attempted to rape her.

The woman’s partner returned unaware of what had happened, and he physically removed the attacker from his seat.

She and her partner disembarked at Swinton but it is not known where the offender alighted.

The offender is white, aged in his late 20s to early 30s. He had brown hair and was wearing a blue Puffer-style jacket.

He is believed to have been travelling with another man, also white and aged in his late 20s to early 30s, who was wearing a black Puffer-style jacket.

Detective Inspector Mick Jackson, of British Transport Police, said: “We have spoken to a number of witnesses already, but I believe there are still people who were on the train or perhaps on the platform who may have seen what took place, or have information about what happened prior to or after the incident which could help us to piece together what happened.”

He urged anyone who recognised the description of the men or had other information, ‘no matter how insignificant it may seem’, to contact police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016, quoting the reference 147 24/11/16.

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