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A man has been arrested in Valencia after allegedly posing as a member of staff at a hostel to gain the trust of three British women before sexually assaulting them over the course of two days.

 

The suspect, a 32-year-old Tunisian national believed to have been staying at the hostel himself, was detained in the early hours of Tuesday June 9 following a joint response by the Policía Nacional and Policía Local de Valencia.

 

The first incident had taken place two days earlier. On Sunday June 7, a 26-year-old British woman was brushing her teeth in the women's bathroom when the suspect approached her from behind, put his arms around her and pressed himself against her without her consent.

 

The second and third victims, aged 18 and 19, arrived at the hostel by taxi at around 1.20am on Tuesday June 9. The suspect met them at the door, led them to believe he was an employee, and directed them towards the men's bathroom. When the women tried to leave, he grabbed them by the arms to prevent them from going.

 

During the struggle he assaulted both women before following them to the women's bathroom, where he undressed and got into a shower. The pair used the opportunity to run to their room, lock themselves in and call the police.

 

Officers arrived quickly and located a man matching the description given by the two women. Both identified him immediately and without hesitation when they came out of their room. At that point, the 26-year-old woman also came forward and told police she was the same man who had assaulted her on Sunday June 7.

 

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Office for Complaints and Assistance for Women (ODAM). All three victims were informed of their rights and the support services available to them by the Policía Local's specialist GAMA unit for victims of abuse. Security cameras inside the hostel may also have recorded part of what took place.

 

The case has been passed to an investigating magistrate, who will decide whether the suspect is remanded in custody or released on bail while the investigation continues.

 

 

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