Thames Valley Police have arrested a 27-year-old man from Reading after a series of incidents on the University of Reading campus that left three people injured and prompted an appeal for witnesses.
What happened
Police say the events occurred on the evening of Thursday 23 July, between approximately 22:00 and 23:00. The incidents took place in the area between the university’s on-site Co-op store and the International Study and Language Institute.
According to the force, a woman in her 30s was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man. That same man is reported to have then physically assaulted two other people: a man in his 20s and a man in his 40s. The woman and the man in his 20s sustained minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.
Arrest and charges
A suspect was detained by officers and has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and public order offences. The individual has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue. Police say the person detained also made racial comments and threats towards another man at the scene, and continued to make racially offensive remarks following arrest.
Police appeal and how to help
Thames Valley Police are asking anyone who was in the vicinity between 22:00 and 23:00 on 23 July to contact them if they witnessed the incidents or saw events leading up to them. Officers have also asked for any audio or video evidence captured on CCTV, dashcam or mobile phones.
- Report sightings or footage online via the Thames Valley Police website
- Call the non-emergency number 101 and quote reference 43260379091
- If you witnessed a crime in progress or someone is in immediate danger, call 999
| Victim | Age | Injury/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Woman | 30s | Allegedly sexually assaulted; minor injuries; no hospital treatment |
| Man | 20s | Assaulted; minor injuries; no hospital treatment |
| Man | 40s | Assaulted; injury status not requiring hospital treatment reported |
Local context and implications
Incidents of this nature on and around university campuses have a disproportionate impact on students, staff and local residents’ sense of safety. The University of Reading campus is a key hub used by thousands daily; any violent or threatening behaviour there prompts urgent inquiries from police and university security teams. The force’s request for witnesses reflects a reliance on community-sourced evidence — CCTV, mobile footage and eyewitness accounts — to build a thorough case.
Anyone with information who is unsure whether what they know might help is encouraged to come forward. Even small details — a description of clothing, a direction of travel, the make of a vehicle, or short video clips — can be significant to investigators.
Thames Valley Police continue to investigate and have not released further details at this stage.
