Police defend silence over sex attacks (From The Oxford Times)

Police defend silence over sex attacks

9:20am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

POLICE defended a decision to not formally alert the public over four alleged sex attacks in East Oxford.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place over eight days but no public appeals were made.

In East Avenue on February 7, a 19-year-old woman claimed to be inappropriately touched by a man who approached her at 10.30pm.

Then a week later on February 14 two incidents are alleged to have taken place in Hurst Street.

At 9.10pm, a 21-year-old woman said she was pushed against a fence and inappropriately touched, and an hour later a 20-year-old woman also reported a man had inappropriately touched her. A fourth incident is alleged to have occurred in Warwick Street the next day at 10.50pm when a 31-year-old woman said she was approached by a man and inappropriately touched. Police said the alleged February 7 attack was reported on February 18 and one of the alleged February 14 attacks was not reported until February 25. Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Rhianne Pope said: “Door to door enquires were made after each allegation, ensuring the local community were reassured and kept informed about the work officers were doing.

“A number of the allegations were not made until sometime after they were alleged to have taken place.”

Erik Berki, 28, from Ridgefield Road, Oxford, was arrested on February 16 and charged on February 27. He was granted bail on March 8 and will appear at Oxford Crown Court again on April 19.