Woman in her 40s sexually assaulted in sea at Bournemouth beach after man ‘swam up to family’ – as suspect, 35, arrested

A WOMAN was allegedly sexually assaulted while with her family at a beach – with a man arrested. The victim, in her 40s, was reportedly touched on her bottom by a man who swam up to the group to the left of the pier at Bournemouth beach on Sunday (July 12). The suspect was described as of Indian descent, about five feet six inches tall and with black hair and a small stubbly beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Officers attended the scene following the alleged incident and a 35-year-old London man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and released on conditional bail. The incident happened at 6pm. Police Constable Matthew McGuinness, of Dorset Police, said: “We believe that there were independent witnesses that saw the incident and I am appealing for them to please contact us as this could assist our investigation.” It is the fourth such alleged sex attack in a month. On Saturday a 16-year-old girl reported she had been sexually assaulted by a man who also touched her as she swam in the sea. Members of the public flagged down police officers on patrol on the seafront at around 3.15pm. Most read in The Sun Police searched for the suspect but he had left the scene. He was described as an Asian male, aged in his early 20s and had short black hair and a beard and was of slim build. At the time he was wearing black and white checked shorts, gold hoop earrings in both ears and a silver chain necklace. Last month a 37-year-old London man was arrested after a young woman reported she had been inappropriately touched by a man while cooling off in the sea on June 23. The suspect was ‘promptly’ arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and later released on bail with a condition not to enter Dorset. Then just over an hour later a woman aged in her late teens said she had been inappropriately touched by a man at the beach. Police officers swiftly arrested a 24-year-old man of London on suspicion of sexual assault. He has also been released on police bail with a condition not to enter Dorset. Meanwhile, in May 2024 personal trainer Amie Gray, 34, was stabbed to death with sitting with a friend on Bournemouth beach. Criminology student Nasen Saadi, from Croydon, south London, was jailed for 39 years for Amie’s murder in May 2025. In 2024 Gabriel Marinoaica was jailed for six and a half years for raping a 15 year old girl in the sea off Bournemouth beach in July 2021. In May Mohammed Abdullah, 19, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault of 19-year-old girl on the seafront in the early hours of July 6, 2025. He is awaiting sentence. This summer police have launched a clampdown on anti-social behaviour on the beach including seizing nitrous oxide canisters from revellers. Anyone with information in relation to Sunday is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260105198. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.