Detectives from West Yorkshire Police arrested a 26-year-old man on 3 March 2026 on suspicion of rape following a serious sexual assault in Huddersfield. The man was taken into custody just days after the incident occurred on the University of Huddersfield campus.
The arrest follows an investigation into an attack reported to have happened on fields near the Barbara Hepworth building at the University of Huddersfield. Police say the incident took place between 3 am and 4:30 am on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
Following the attack, specialist officers from the Kirklees Public Protection Unit have been working alongside neighbourhood teams to provide a visible presence and reassure students. The unit is typically responsible for monitoring registered offenders and ensuring they are closely watched to help protect the local community.
This action comes amid a broader crime crackdown in the town centre which resulted in 17 arrests between 28 February and 3 March 2026. According to West Yorkshire Police, these arrests covered various offences including drug dealing, assault, and shoplifting, as well as returning individuals to prison who had broken their release rules.
Detective Inspector Will Denton, who is leading the investigation into the university assault, has asked anyone with information to contact the police. Officers are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was near John William Street or Cross Church Street on the night the incident took place.
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