INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the alleged rape of man last month.

Cleveland Police has re-issued a CCTV image of a man they are trying to trace in connection with the alleged sexual assault.

The identity of the man is still unknown and he is being treated as a potential witness as officers encourage him to come forward and speak with them, or ask anyone who knows of his identity to get in touch.

Police received a report that a man, aged in his forties, had been pushed to the ground and raped around 7:30pm on Thursday, April 29 on the footpath known as the black path which runs from Tees Barrage to Newport bridge, near to Maze Park Nature Reserve.

The Northern Echo: Maze Park Nature ReserveMaze Park Nature Reserve

Detective Sergeant Iain Pearson said: “Again, I would like to thank the public for their response to the appeals that we have made so far.

“As part of the investigation we would like to again ask for the public’s help to trace the man in the CCTV image, as we are keen to speak to him as a potential witness and I would urge him to come forward.

“I would also like to anyone who uses the path regularly between Newport Bridge and Tees Barrage, such as anyone from a running or cycling club for example. I would ask those people, have you seen anyone in the area who matches the description of the male suspect?

"Did you use the path on the evening of the incident and did you see anything out of the ordinary or anyone behaving suspiciously? Do you have any other information which could assist this inquiry?”

  • Any witnesses or anyone who may know the identity of the person in the CCTV image, is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting incident number 068313. Independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online here.
  • This story was amended on May 19 to remove CCTV images following the arrest of a man in connection with the incident