A man aged 37 has been arrested and is in police custody in relation to a series of sexual assaults in Jesmond Dene. The man was arrested at 12.20pm on May 12th in Jesmond Dene following what Northumbria Police has described as suspicious behaviour.

The arrest comes after a series of reports of sexual assault in the Jesmond Dene area.

The first incident occurred on Saturday April 25th when a slim black male, thought to be in his 20s and between 5’7? and 6? tall exposed himself in Jesmond Dene. Following this, around midday on Sunday April 26th a man, who police believed to be the same man, exposed himself on Barrack Road, before boarding a bus into Newcastle.

A further incident occurred around 10am on Wednesday April 29th. A female jogger was running over the footbridge in Jesmond Dene when she was grabbed and touched inappropriately.

Incidences of violence and sexual offences in the Jesmond and Heaton area has increased to more than double what it was in March of 2012, where the number of recorded incidences was 13. Three years later this figure has increased to 33 reported incidences in March 2015.

Anyone with concerns of queries are invited to come along to one of the many police drop-in sessions which can be found on the website at: http://www.northumbria.police.uk/your_neighbourhood/central/newcastle/events/?area=TT:%20Newcastle&Month=5&Year=2015&Day=20

The next drop-in session is on May 14th at 12pm at Newcastle University Kings Gate. Particularly for any students, there is a student drop- in session on May 19th at 12pm at the students union. This may be an ideal time for any students living in Jesmond to discuss any worries of concerns they may have in a relaxed and informal environment.