Rape Suspect Held In Slovakia

[Infantry]

Leeds Bus Stop Rape Suspect Held In Slovakia

A man is held on an international arrest warrant after the attack which left a woman with a fractured skull.

17:56, Thursday 04 June 2015

The attack took place at a bus stop on Beeston Road. Pic: Google Streetview

A man has been arrested in Slovakia over the attempted murder and rape of an 18-year-old woman near a bus stop in Leeds in March.

The 21-year-old Slovakian was held in Kosice in the east of the country and will he kept in custody while British authorities seeks his extradition.

The victim was attacked on Beeston Road, Leeds on 6 March at about 10.50pm.

Police released CCTV of the incident, which showed the woman struggling with her attacker before he battered her with a rock and left her with a fractured skull.

The suspect was detained after Leeds detectives secured a European Arrest Warrant.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, who is leading the investigation, said: "The European Arrest Warrant process requires that police forces are in a position to charge any suspect they are seeking.

"To that end we consulted the Crown Prosecution Service before applying to a district judge at Leeds Magistrates' Court for the European Arrest Warrant.

"Once the warrant was granted, we liaised with the Slovakian police through the National Crime Agency to secure the arrest of this man.

"We are very grateful to the Slovakian authorities for their assistance.

"The man is currently in custody in Slovakia and we will now be pursuing the legal process with the aim of getting him extradited back to the United Kingdom to be charged to appear at court."