Boy, 15, arrested over attempted rape after e-bike gang 'target' woman in Leeds
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after a spate of harassment and sexual assaults on a woman by a group of people on e-bikes clad in balaclavas.
The teenager was arrested yesterday on suspicion of attempted rape after the sexual assault of a woman in the Belle Isle area of Leeds on 8 December.
Officers from Leeds District Safeguarding unit are continuing to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the ongoing investigation to come forward.
It comes after a spate of racially-motivated harassment on the same attacks over the past month.
West Yorkshire Police have said there have been five similar incidents on the same woman recently, with the same attackers believed to be involved every time.
Officers said this “clearly shows an escalating pattern of targeted behaviour”.
In the most recent incident, the victim was walking along a pathway between Old Run View and West Grange Road at 10.50am when she was approached by four masked males on two electric bikes.
The assailants were all clad in black and wearing balaclavas.
They held a knife to the woman’s neck and she was sexually assaulted, police said.
Officers from Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing team have increased patrols in the area to reassure residents.
Det Ch Insp Samantha Freeman of Leeds District’s Safeguarding Unit said: “We are appealing for information about these incidents and the four males we believe were in involved in them.
“This was a particularly horrific incident for the victim to endure and clearly shows an escalating pattern of targeted behaviour.
“That’s why I’m urging anyone in the community who has information about the people involved to get in contact with us.”
Anyone with information contact West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or go online at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat quoting reference 13250703697. Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.