A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted while swimming with her family at Bournemouth beach, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old man. The victim, in her 40s, reported that a man touched her on the bottom over her clothing while she was in the sea.
The incident occurred on Sunday around 6 p.m. near the pier. Dorset Police stated that the man approached the family as they were swimming. The suspect is described as being of Indian descent, approximately five feet six inches tall, with black hair, a small stubbly beard, wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts.
Officers attended the scene and arrested a 35-year-old man from London on suspicion of sexual assault. He has since been released on conditional bail. Police Constable Matthew McGuinness of Dorset Police appealed for independent witnesses who may have seen the incident to come forward.
This incident follows two other alleged sexual assaults that occurred on Bournemouth beach on June 23. In those cases, two women, one in her 20s and another a teenager, reported being touched inappropriately over their clothing while in the sea. Police arrested two men from London in connection with these incidents, both of whom have been released on bail and banned from Dorset. Dorset Police have stated that these two incidents are not being treated as linked to the most recent event.
In a separate case, Mohammed Abdullah, 19, was found guilty in May of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in a beach toilet in Bournemouth. The assault occurred in the early hours of July 6, 2025, after Abdullah offered the woman a ride home. He subsequently took her into a locked beach toilet and raped her.
Dorset Police are asking anyone with information regarding the Sunday incident to contact them online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260105198. Anonymous information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers.