Sex attacks on girls in park investigated

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault after two girls were attacked in a park.

Thames Valley Police said two 14-year-old girls got into conversation with four males who they did not know in Florence Park, Oxford, on 28 July.

The girls and two males then went to a wooded area of Marsh Park, where one male raped one of the girls while the other sexually assaulted the second girl, the force said. Police arrested a 20-year-old man from Oxford on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.

Police also released a CCTV image on Friday of a male they wanted to speak to, but shortly after said they had identified the person in the image.

The offences took place between about 17:15 and 18:00 BST. Afterwards, both girls left the park and contacted the police.

Investigating officer Det Con Sarah Tibble, of the child abuse investigation unit, said: "As part of our thorough investigation we have carried out forensic examinations and searches at the parks, supported and taken statements from the victims and other witnesses, undertaken phone enquiries, carried out CCTV enquiries, undertaken ID parades, worked directly with local communities to identify several potential witnesses, and made two arrests."

The arrested man has been released on police bail until 14 January.

A boy who was arrested in connection with the investigation has been released without charge after it was established he was not involved.