- The 47-year-old suspect is understood to be from Eastern Europe.
Portuguese police have arrested a masseuse accused of raping a British pensioner.
The 71-year-old went to the police after he was allegedly sexually assaulted following a massage session in the Algarve town of Quarteira.
The 47-year-old suspect is believed to be from Eastern Europe.
It was not immediately clear if the Briton lives in Portugal or was vacationing in the area.
A spokesperson for Portugal’s Judicial Police, confirming the arrest in the Algarve municipality of Loule, of which Quarteira is a part, said: “Last Friday, the Judicial Police arrested a 47-year-old man strongly suspected of raping a 71-year-old woman, a foreign citizen, in a massage center in the municipality of Loulé.
The 71-year-old man went to the police after allegedly being sexually assaulted following a massage session in the town of Quarteira, in the Algarve (file image of the town).
‘The alleged victim reported the incident which police discovered had allegedly occurred after a massage session.
‘As a result of the investigation, carried out by the Southern Directorate of the PJ, the agents were able to collect some very relevant evidence.’
A source close to the ongoing investigation added: “We are waiting for medical reports to get a full picture of what happened.
‘Police are also investigating the background of the arrested man to see if there have been any previous cases involving this individual.
“In these types of cases, victims very often do not go to the police due to shame or trauma, although for now the information that the police have been able to gather about the detainee does not indicate that he has had previous arrests or convictions in Portugal for any reason. “. sexual crimes.’
The unnamed man has already appeared in court and was released on bail with the obligation to sign each week and accept the prohibition of contacting his alleged victim or his family.
The British woman filed her initial complaint with Portugal’s GNR police with the support of her family.
One well-placed source described her as “very upset” when she raised the alarm.
The business premises from which his alleged sexual attacker operated has not been identified.
Quarteira is located between the exclusive area of ​​Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura with its magnificent marina and several golf courses.
It caters for a large number of tourists and Portuguese locals and is famous for its good value restaurants and bars.