COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The incident happened last night in Bell Green between 8.30pm and midnight



Part of Bell Green has been taped off by police following a report that a 19-year-old man was the victim of a serious sexual assault.

Officers are investigating the claim that the man was attacked in Roseberry Avenue between 8.30pm and midnight.

The children’s play area in Roseberry Avenue and part of the Sowe Valley footpath which runs alongside the park was taped off by police this morning.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “A 19-year-old man is being supported by specialist officers. The investigation is at an early stage and no arrests have been made at this time.”

Parents in the area said the incident had left them concerned for their children’s safety on the way to school.

A local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It makes me feel sick to my stomach. It’s awful.”

The Telegraph understands that police have already conducted door to door inquiries and are asking if anyone in the area has any CCTV footage from last night that might be able to help them shed some light on the allegation.

Anyone with information should contact Coventry Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Man charged with rape following alleged attack in Bell Green

A Coventry man will appear in court today charged with raping another man in Bell Green .

The man, aged 22, of no fixed address, will also stand accused of wounding and theft when he appears at Coventry Magistrates’ Court this morning.

His arrest followed an alleged incident in the Roseberry Avenue area on the evening of Thursday September 15.

The children’s play area in Roseberry Avenue and part of the Sowe Valley footpath were taped off while police began their investigations.

It’s alleged the attack happened between 8.30pm and midnight.

A second man, aged 28, arrested by police on suspicion of rape has been released on bail until mid-October.

Young man raped another man near a Coventry children's play area

A YOUNG man who raped another man near a Coventry children’s play area has been remanded in custody to be assessed by a psychiatrist over the risk he poses to the public.

Timothy Forsyth had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to raping and robbing his victim on parkland off Roseberry Avenue, Bell Green.

His case had been adjourned for trial, which had been due to take place later this month.

But at a further hearing, his barrister Sally Hancox asked for six of the charges he faced to be put to him again.

Forsyth (23) of no fixed address, then pleaded guilty to charges of raping the other man during the incident late at night on September 15 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to rob his victim of £200 after frogmarching him to a cash machine to try to withdraw the money from his account.

In addition Forsyth admitted two charges of assaulting the victim, once on the parkland and again at a garage, and stealing his rucksack, some clothing and his medication.

After Forsyth had entered his pleas, prosecutor Michael Williams commented: “In relation to sentence, this is a particularly serious offence, with a high level of violence.”

He pointed out that Forsyth had ‘very limited antecedents,’ with a conviction for burglary in 2004 and a public order offence in 2014.

But Mr Williams added: “Given the circumstances of this case, it may well be the court is considering dangerousness, and may well be assisted by a report addressing those issues.”

Recorder Rachel Brand QC observed: “There is a psychiatric report, but it addresses his fitness to plead rather than the issue of future risk.”

Miss Hancox said the defence would ask the psychiatrist who has already seen Forsyth to prepare a further report on him.

So Recorder Brand adjourned the case for that report, which she said should assess the future risk posed by Forsyth, and remanded him in custody.