Man charged with bizarre cola attacks

Christopher Attwood, 24, will face magistrates in Gloucester later this month accused of three charges of assault.

He was arrested earlier this week when he was spotted acting suspiciously by an off-duty police officer.

Gloucestershire Police said there had been 12 reported incidents across the city since between April and June.

In 10 of the linked cases a man was reported to have approached his victims from behind before tipping water from a container over them.

In the two other attacks, cola was used.

Most of the attacks took place at the beginning or end of the day, with the youngest victim aged 10 and the oldest in her 20s.

Gloucestershire Police said incidents happened in Norbury Avenue, Matson; Linnet Close and Heron Way in Abbeydale; Hurricane Road in Brockworth; The Butts, Baneberry Road, Marlborough Road, Calton Road and Lewisham Road.

Officers launched a covert operation to catch the suspect and eagle-eyed Pc Andy Plant, who was off duty, spotted Attwood acting suspiciously in Reservoir Road.

He reported the incident to his colleagues and Attwood was arrested on suspicion of common assault.

Attwood, 24, from Lancaster Road, Brockworth, Gloucester, has been released on conditional bail to face Gloucester Magistrates’ Court on July 27.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: “Amongst his bail conditions, Attwood cannot enter Gloucester out of work hours, can only enter Gloucester via a set route and is not to be in possession of any liquid-carrying container or water in a public place.”