A 26-year-old man from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 17-year-old girl in a property off Godmans Lane, Marks Tey, earlier this month.
Detectives investigating the alleged rape, which happened on June 12 in the village near Colchester, initially believed the “terrifying” assault had been carried out by a complete stranger to the victim.
Information has since come to light establishing that there had been “some prior contact” between the alleged attacker and the victim.
Police previously issued appeals for information, including the release of an Efit image of the alleged attacker.
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “Officers had appealed extensively for information following the incident on Monday, June 12, after initial information suggested the suspect was unknown to the victim.
“Further enquiries have established there had been some prior contact between the victim, aged 17, and the man believed responsible for the assault, which happened inside a property off Godmans Lane.”
They confirmed the victim and the attacker could not be described as “strangers”.
At the time of the media appeal, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Smith, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, described the alleged attack as a “terrifying ordeal”.
The arrested man has subsequently been released under investigation.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here