Perseverance and thorough investigative work are being credited as the drivers behind the arrest of a Hamilton man today in relation to an historic abduction of a woman.
Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton of the Hamilton CIB said officers arrested a 61-year-old man at his Chartwell home today in relation to an incident in February.
"During that incident a 27-year-old woman was picked up by a man in a car while walking along Brookfield St during the early hours of 23 February and taken against her will to Marshmeadow Rd where she was allegedly indecently assaulted.
"Driven back to the City the man then took the woman to some public toilets where she was able to escape and raise the alarm."
Mr Thornton said at the time several members of the public had contacted Police offering assistance however detectives were not able to develop this information further.
"What followed was a period of intense, in depth forensic examination and painstaking investigative work which has led us to the point of evidential sufficiency to be able to take this matter before the courts.
"That we have reached this point is a credit to those involved in the case and offers some reassurance to victims of such offences that their complaints will be taken seriously and acted on, we hope the arrest of this man will bring some comfort to the victim."
Mr Thornton said Police enquiries to this point have not established any link between the offender and his victim prior to the attack.
The man has been arrested and charged with abduction and assault with intent to cause sexual violation and will appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.
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