Man arrested after teenager reportedly raped in Braintree
Essex Police say the suspect is not connected to the nearby asylum centre
Essex Police have arrested a man in connection with a report that a teenage girl was raped in Braintree.
The incident was reported shortly after 8.50pm on the 14th of April and happened in the Mount Road area.
A 26 year old man was arrested on suspicion of rape and was subject to two custody extension applications.
He has since been released on bail with strict conditions.
The victim is being supported by specialist officers.
Essex Police have confirmed that the arrested man is not a resident of the Wethersfield asylum centre and established that no-one living at the address where the offence took place is involved in this case.
Chief Superintendent Jenny Francis addressed the community's concern, emphasising the importance of transparency and caution in the investigation:
"Since this report was made, we’ve moved quickly to identify evidence to build a fuller picture of what has happened.
“We’ve taken accounts which has required a careful and sensitive approach given the victim is a teenage girl. Her wellbeing, and the safety of the public, is our priority.
“We must take our time and ensure she and her family know they are supported and their privacy protected.
“It is not lost on me that this incident will cause concern in the community and it is something we have been alive to since our investigation began.
“We want to be transparent as much as we can, but I hope you’ll appreciate there are some details that we are not able to confirm as this is a live investigation.
“One key element we consider with any incident is the risk posed to the wider public.
“Where we believe the risk has been contained, it is sometimes beneficial to carry out investigations away from the public gaze and speculation.
“I want to thank the member of the public who reported this incident to us as well as those people we’ve spoken to around CCTV availability.
“We will continue to work through all the evidence available to us in close liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We have also liaised with our partners, as we would with any serious incident, to ensure support for our community.”